Tragic Figure Essay Essay, Research Paper
According to Aristotle, a tragic figure is a human yet
better; having a misapprehension in circumspection which
causes a decline from a pinnacle; and claiming victory by
realizing their mistakes. The main characters in Medea and
Hippolytus, both Greek tragedies written by Euripides;
Oedipus, a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles; and Desire
Under the Elms, a twentieth century tragedy written by
Eugene O Neil are all great examples of tragic figures.
Each character, Medea, Hippolytus, Oedipus, and Abbie
exemplifies the definition of a tragic figure in his or her
own way. However, all four characters possesses a
strength which makes them better than the average person;
each character has a personal flaw or misstep that leads to
their downfall; and Oedipus and Abbie claim final victory
where as Medea and Hippolytus do not.
The Strength of Medea, Hippolytus, Oedipus, and
Abbie are exhibited in numerous ways. One of the
strengths that all of the characters share is determination.
The characters share this quality because, Medea was
determined to get revenge on Jason; Hippolytus was
determined to let his father know the truth; Oedipus was
determined to find the killer of Lauis; and Abbie was
determined to own the farm. Medea s and Abbie s
determination for selfish reasons. Medea proclaims, If I
can find the means or devise any scheme to pay my
husband for what he has done to me… This quote shows
how resolved Medea is to repay Jason. Abbie s
ascertainment is used to mostly to get material entities,
Abbie states how she only married Cabot for a home in the
following, Waal-what if I did need a hum? What else d I
marry a old man like him fur? This reference shows how
determined she was to marry just for material things. Now,
in the case of Hippolytus and Oedipus, their determination
was for the good of the family or country. In the tragedy
Hippolytus, Hippolytus pronounces to his father, Nor am
I, father, one that mocks his fellows, but loyal in their
absence as their sight; and above all, untouched by that one
sin of which you would convict me. To this day my flesh
is virgin. Hippolytus is telling his father, Theseus, the
truth and does so throughout the play. Similarly Oedipus
determination is for the good of the country. Oedipus
country is under a plague and he enumerates, I fight in his
defense as for my father, and I shall try all means to take
the murderer of Lauis the son of Labdacus the son of
Polydorus and before him of Cadmus and before him of
Agenor. Those who do not obey me, may the gods grant
no crops springing from the ground they plow nor children
to their women! Here, Oedipus is showing his persistence
to finding the murderer Lauis. These strengths may seem
worthy of recognition, but it is these strengths that lead to
their downfall.
The act of leaving their native home takes a toll on
Medea and Oedipus. But for Abbie it was her love for
Eben; and Hippolytus pride caused him to fall hard. After
leaving her home, Colchis, to marry Jason, she regrets her
actions. Medea declares, Oh, my father! Oh, my country!
In what dishonor I left you, killing my own brother for it,
In saying this Medea shows her agony for leaving Colchis
and marring the cowardly Jason. In Comparison
Oedipus left his home in order to avoid his fate. Oedipus
fled his town because of this, I was fated to lie with my
mother, and show to daylight an accursed breed which men
would not endure, and I was doomed to be murderer of the
father who begot me. When I heard this I fled, and in the
days that followed I would measure from the stars the
whereabouts of Corinth-yes, I fled to somewhere where I
should not see fulfilled the infamies told in dreadful
oracle. On the other hand Abbie s misstep was falling in
love with Eben. This is her blunder because Eben is her
stepson and she tells him, Don t git feelin low. I love ye,
Eben. Kiss me. Now, as for Hippolytus, his
superciliousness causes him to repudiate Phaedra, thus,
causing her to kill herself. Hippolytus divulges, Curse
you! No never can I utter all my loathing of women!
Hippolytus is letting his pride come out and is speaking out
of disgust in this quote. These missteps may have seemed
like a good idea at the time but they all lead the characters
into calamity.
All of the characters eventually decline from their
social status. Hippolytus, Oedipus, and Medea were all
exiled from their countries, Abbie s downfall can be
compared with the other, but instead of ostracism from her
country; she is sent jail. Hippolytus is exiled because
Theseus, his father, believes he slept with his wife,
Phaedra. Theseus declares to Hippolytus, Yet not you
shall die!-Not by the penalty thus self-invoked (For speedy
death is kindest for the wretched); But as a beggared
outcast from your home. Oedipus is banished from his
land for the murder of Lauis and to relieve the country of
the plague. Oedipus cries, Drive me from here with all
the speed you can to where I may not hear a human voice.
Oedipus lamenting is due to the fact he is the cause of the
plague and the murderer of Lauis, whom he promised to rid
the city of. of course, Creon, being daunted for the lives of
himself and his daughter, he exiles Medea. Creon
expounds, Medea, I order you along with your two
children, and not to waste time doing it. As for Abbie, she
is not exiled but she is sentenced to jail for the murder of
her son.
When a tragic figure recognizes his or her wrong
doings they assert personal triumph. Not all tragic figures
claim this victory, Medea and Hippolytus are perfect
examples. Hippolytus never realized that it was his anger
that sent Phaedra over the edge. As for Medea, she
murders a great number of people including her
immaculate sons. Medea ruminated about desecrating
Jason so much, she really didn t have a conscious. On the
opposition, Oedipus and Abbie are true tragic figures.
They both realize what they have done wrong and is
willing to face the consequences. Abbie realizes she has
committed the worst crime and sin; she asks for
forgiveness and accepts her punishment. I ve got t take
my punishment-t pay fur my sin… she proclaims before
getting in the sheriff s car. Oedipus, like Abbie, also
realizes his crime and utters, But the hand that struck me
was none but my own. Oedipus says this because he
notices that it was his own doings that brought him this
pain and disharmony.
All of the tragic figures ventilated had similarities and
yet diverged in countless ways. Each character possesses a
strength, but the strength is used in different ways; each has
a flaw, and each flaw and fall deviates; and two out of the
four recognize their wrong, which lets them claim victory
that is not same. Tragic figures can be very complex yet
simplistic once studied. In today s society the actions of
Medea, Hippolytus, Oedipus, and Abbie would be justified
by a psychiatrist as a lack of attention or love.