romeo as a tragic hero essay

Shakespeare’s Romeo as a Tragic Hero Essay

Introduction.

What made an old story “of woe” about teen love and suicide the most filmed play to date and a cultural phenomenon with an impressive legacy that lives to that day? 1595 “Romeo and Juliet” became Shakespeare’s most famous play in his lifetime, and the complex characters that he carefully created have grown to become the archetypes of young, tragic lovers since then. Shakespeare showed his mastery through his depiction of tragic love capable of taking lives and wreaking havoc as well as the poetic structure. Mixing comedy and tragedy, the author employed every device at hand to showcase character development. This paper will discuss Romeo, her role in the play, and how the concepts of misfortune, conflict, and fatal flaw apply to her.

Romeo and Juliet’s love, no matter how strong, was not able to break the bounds of the rigid social order in the 13th-century Verona. The question arises as to whether the tragic end was preventable by any means and who was to blame for the characters’ misfortune. It is possible to explain the concept of misfortune in the play in a variety of ways. For instance, Friar Lawrence, who was in favor of young love, is unable to arrive at Capulet’s Monument in time and thus, inadvertently lets Romeo’s suicide happen. All in all, the events unfold in such a manner that it brings one to think that these were not coincidences but the manifestations of fate.

The analysis of the play exposes one major external and one internal conflicts, both of which have something to do with Romeo’s character. First, Romeo, a Montague, suffers from the consequences of the decades-long feud between Capulets and Montagues. As a direct offspring, he realizes that his love is of a forbidden kind but cannot resist the fatal attraction. The internal conflict is a bit deeper than the family quarrels. In Romeo and Juliet , a slim chance to live and to love opposes the almighty fate. The two conflicts are interconnected: it was not Romeo’s choice to be born a Montague, and he can only hope that his romance survives despite all odds.

What makes Shakespeare’s artistry so great is his ability to create believable characters: they are living breathing creatures not devoid of imperfections. However, in the play about impossible love, each of the main characters’ flaws becomes fatal and brings about the tragic end. Romeo’s fatal flaw is his impetuousness: the combination of immaturity, inability to consider others’ advice, and social grooming set him for an impending disaster. Romeo’s impatience and impulsiveness push him to commit suicide while ignoring other solutions. Unwillingly, he causes the death of the one he truly loved, Juliet.

In his world-famous play, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare creates a believable portrait of a teenager of a marriageable age living in 13th century Italy. Romeo meets Juliet at a tender age of fifteen and dives blindly, head-first in love. Their romance, no matter how promising and endearing, is not bound to happen as the young lovers belong to quarreling families who will not bury the hatchet even for the sake of their children’s happiness. The hostile environment that Romeo has to tolerate is unfortunate, and at a very young age, he is confronted with both an external conflict, the feud, and internal – overcoming the fate. His fatal flaw, impetuousness, does not help his case, for unable to handle the pressure, he commits suicide. The convergence of unwelcoming social conditions and poor timing on par with his imperfect personality make Romeo a true tragic hero.

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Bibliography

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Tragic Hero

Tragic Hero Definition

What is a tragic hero? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

A tragic hero is a type of character in a tragedy , and is usually the protagonist . Tragic heroes typically have heroic traits that earn them the sympathy of the audience, but also have flaws or make mistakes that ultimately lead to their own downfall. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet , Romeo is a tragic hero. His reckless passion in love, which makes him a compelling character, also leads directly to the tragedy of his death.

Some additional key details about tragic heroes:

• The idea of the tragic hero was first defined by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle based on his study of Greek drama.
• Despite the term "tragic hero," it's sometimes the case that tragic heroes are not really heroes at all in the typical sense—and in a few cases, antagonists may even be described as tragic heroes.

Tragic Hero Pronunciation

Here's how to pronounce tragic hero: tra -jik hee -roh

The Evolution of the Tragic Hero

Tragic heroes are the key ingredient that make tragedies, well, tragic. That said, the idea of the characteristics that make a tragic hero have changed over time.

Aristotle and the Tragic Hero

The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle was the first to define a "tragic hero." He believed that a good tragedy must evoke feelings of fear and pity in the audience, since he saw these two emotions as being fundamental to the experience of catharsis (the process of releasing strong or pent-up emotions through art). As Aristotle puts it, when the tragic hero meets his demise, "pity is aroused by unmerited misfortune, fear by the misfortune of a man like ourselves."

Aristotle strictly defined the characteristics that a tragic hero must have in order to evoke these feelings in an audience. According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must:

• Be virtuous: In Aristotle's time, this meant that the character should be a noble. It also meant that the character should be both capable and powerful (i.e. "heroic"), and also feel responsible to the rules of honor and morality that guided Greek culture. These traits make the hero attractive and compelling, and gain the audience's sympathy.
• Be flawed: While being heroic, the character must also have a tragic flaw (also called hamartia ) or more generally be subject to human error, and the flaw must lead to the character's downfall. On the one hand, these flaws make the character "relatable," someone with whom the audience can identify. Just as important, the tragic flaw makes the tragedy more powerful because it means that the source of the tragedy is internal to the character, not merely some outside force. In the most successful tragedies, the tragic hero's flaw is not just a characteristic they have in addition to their heroic qualities, but one that emerges from their heroic qualities—for instance, a righteous quest for justice or truth that leads to terrible conclusions, or hubris (the arrogance that often accompanies greatness). In such cases, it is as if the character is fated to destruction by his or her own nature.
• Suffer a reversal of fortune: The character should suffer a terrible reversal of fortune, from good to bad. Such a reversal does not merely mean a loss of money or status. It means that the work should end with the character dead or in immense suffering, and to a degree that outweighs what it seems like the character deserved.

To sum up: Aristotle defined a tragic hero rather strictly as a man of noble birth with heroic qualities whose fortunes change due to a tragic flaw or mistake (often emerging from the character's own heroic qualities) that ultimately brings about the tragic hero's terrible, excessive downfall.

The Modern Tragic Hero

Over time, the definition of a tragic hero has relaxed considerably. It can now include

• Characters of all genders and class backgrounds. Tragic heroes no longer have to be only nobles, or only men.
• Characters who don't fit the conventional definition of a hero. This might mean that a tragic hero could be regular person who lacks typical heroic qualities, or perhaps even a villainous or or semi-villainous person.

Nevertheless, the essence of a tragic hero in modern times maintains two key aspects from Aristotle's day:

• The tragic hero must have the sympathy of the audience.
• The tragic hero must, despite their best efforts or intentions, come to ruin because of some tragic flaw in their own character.

Tragic Hero, Antihero, and Byronic Hero

There are two terms that are often confused with tragic hero: antihero and Byronic hero.

• Antihero : An antihero is a protagonist who lacks many of the conventional qualities associated with heroes, such as courage, honesty, and integrity, but still has the audience's sympathy. An antihero may do the right thing for the wrong reason. Clint Eastwood's character in the western film, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly , is fundamentally selfish. He digs up graves to look for gold and kills anyone who gets in his way, so he's definitely a bad guy. But as an antihero, he's not completely rotten: he also shows a little sympathy for dying soldiers in the bloody war going on around him, and at the end of the film he acts mercifully in choosing not to kill a man who previously tried to kill him. He does a few good things, but only as long as it suits him—so he's a classic antihero.
• Byronic hero : A Byronic hero is a variant of the antihero. Named after the characters in the poetry of Lord Byron, the Byronic hero is usually a man who is an intelligent, emotionally sensitive, introspective, and cynical character. While Byronic heroes tend to be very charismatic, they're deeply flawed individuals, who might do things that are generally thought of as socially unacceptable because they are at odds with mainstream society. A Byronic hero has his own set of beliefs and will not yield for anyone. While it might not be initially apparent, deep down, the Byronic hero is also quite selfish.

According to the modern conception of a tragic hero, both an antihero and a Byronic hero could also be tragic heroes. But in order for a tragic hero to exist, he or she has to be part of a tragedy with a story that ends in death or ruin. Antiheroes and Byronic heroes can exist in all sorts of different genres, however, not just tragedies. An antihero in an action movie—for instance Deadpool, in the first Deadpool movie—is not a tragic hero because his story ends generally happily. But you could argue that Macbeth is a kind of antihero (or at least an initial hero who over time becomes an antihero), and he is very definitely also a tragic hero.

Tragic Hero Examples

Tragic heroes in drama.

The tragic hero originated in ancient Greek theater, and can still be seen in contemporary tragedies. Even though the definition has expanded since Aristotle first defined the archetype, the tragic hero's defining characteristics have remained—for example, eliciting sympathy from the audience, and bringing about their own downfall.

Oedipus as Tragic Hero in Oedipus Rex

The most common tragic flaw (or hamartia ) for a tragic hero to have is hubris , or excessive pride and self-confidence. Sophocles' tragic play Oedipus Rex contains what is perhaps the most well-known example of Aristotle's definition of the tragic hero—and it's also a good example of hubris. The play centers around King Oedipus, who seeks to rid the city he leads of a terrible plague. At the start of the play, Oedipus is told by a prophet that the only way to banish the plague is to punish the man who killed the previous king, Laius. But the same prophet also reports that Oedipus has murdered his own father and married his mother. Oedipus refuses to believe the second half of the prophecy—the part pertaining to him—but nonetheless sets out to find and punish Laius's murderer. Eventually, Oedipus discovers that Laius had been his father, and that he had, in fact, unwittingly killed him years earlier, and that the fateful event had led directly to him marrying his own mother. Consequently, Oedipus learns that he himself is the cause of the plague, and upon realizing all this he gouges his eyes out in misery (his wife/mother also kills herself).

Oedipus has all the important features of a classical tragic hero. Throughout the drama, he tries to do what is right and just, but because of his tragic flaw (hubris) he believes he can avoid the fate given to him by the prophet, and as a result he brings about his own downfall.

Willy Loman as Tragic Hero in Death of a Salesman

Arthur Miller wrote his play Death of a Salesman with the intent of creating a tragedy about a man who was not a noble or powerful man, but rather a regular working person, a salesman.

The protagonist of Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman, desperately tries to provide for his family and maintain his pride. Willy has high expectations for himself and for his children. He wants the American Dream, which for him means financial prosperity, happiness, and good social standing. Yet as he ages he finds himself having to struggle to hold onto the traveling salesman job at the company to which he has devoted himself for decades. Meanwhile, the prospects for his sons, Biff and Happy, who seemed in high school to have held such promise, have similarly fizzled. Willy cannot let go of his idea of the American Dream nor his connected belief that he must as an American man be a good provider for his family. Ultimately, this leads him to see himself as more valuable dead than alive, and he commits suicide so his family can get the insurance money.

Willy is a modern tragic hero. He's a good person who means well, but he's also deeply flawed, and his obsession with a certain idea of success, as well as his determination to provide for his family, ultimately lead to his tragic death.

Tragic Heroes in Literature

Tragic heroes appear all over important literary works. With time, Aristotle's strict definition for what makes a tragic hero has changed, but the tragic hero's fundamental ability to elicit sympathy from an audience has remained.

Jay Gatsby as Tragic Hero in The Great Gatsby

The protagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby , is Jay Gatsby, a young and mysterious millionaire who longs to reunite with a woman whom he loved when he was a young man before leaving to fight in World War I. This woman, Daisy, is married, however, to a man named Tom Buchanan from a wealthy old money family. Gatsby organizes his entire life around regaining Daisy: he makes himself rich (through dubious means), he rents a house directly across a bay from hers, he throws lavish parties in the hopes that she will come. The two finally meet again and do begin an affair, but the affair ends in disaster—with Gatsby taking responsibility for driving a car that Daisy was in fact driving when she accidentally hit and killed Tom's mistress (named Myrtle), Daisy abandoning Gatsby and returning to Tom, and Gatsby getting killed by Myrtle's husband.

Gatsby's downfall is his unrelenting pursuit of a certain ideal—the American Dream—and a specific woman who he thinks fits within this dream. His blind determination makes him unable to see both that Daisy doesn't fit the ideal and that the ideal itself is unachievable. As a result he endangers himself to protect someone who likely wouldn't do the same in return. Gatsby is not a conventional hero (it's strongly implied that he made his money through gambling and other underworld activities), but for the most part his intentions are noble: he seeks love and self-fulfillment, and he doesn't intend to hurt anyone. So, Gatsby would be a modernized version of Aristotle's tragic hero—he still elicits the audience's sympathy—even if he is a slightly more flawed version of the archetype.

Javert as Tragic Hero in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables

Javert is a police detective, obsessed with law and order, and Les Misérables' primary antagonist. The novel contains various subplots but for the most part follows a character named Jean Valjean, a good and moral person who cannot escape his past as an ex-convict. (He originally goes to prison for stealing a loaf of bread to help feed his sister's seven children.) After Valjean escapes from prison, he changes his name and ends up leading a moral and prosperous life, becoming well-known for the ways in which he helps the poor.

Javert, known for his absolute respect for authority and the law, spends many years trying to find the escaped convict and return him to prison. After Javert's lifelong pursuit leads him to Valjean, though, Valjean ends up saving Javert's life. Javert, in turn, finds himself unable to arrest the man who showed him such mercy, but also cannot give up his devotion to justice and the law. In despair, he commits suicide. In other words: Javert's strength and righteous morality lead him to his destruction.

While Javert fits the model of a tragic hero in many ways, he's an unconventional tragic hero because he's an antagonist rather than the protagonist of the novel (Valjean is the protagonist). One might then argue that Javert is a "tragic figure" or "tragic character" rather than a "tragic hero" because he's not actually the "hero" of the novel at all. He's a useful example, though, because he shows just how flexible the idea of a "tragic hero" can be, and how writers play with those ideas to create new sorts of characters.

Additional Examples of Tragic Heroes

• Macbeth: In Shakespeare's Macbeth , the main character Macbeth allows his (and his wife's) ambition to push him to murder his king in order to fulfill a prophecy and become king himself. Macbeth commits his murder early in the play, and from then on his actions become bloodier and bloodier, and he becomes more a villain than a hero. Nonetheless, he ends in death, with his wife also dead, and fully realizing the emptiness of his life. Macbeth is a tragic hero, but the play is interesting in that his fatal flaw or mistake occurs relatively early in the play, and the rest of the play shows his decline into tragedy even as he initially seems to get what he seeks (the throne).
• Michael Corleone: The main character of the Godfather films, Michael Corleone can be said to experience a tragic arc over the course of the three Godfather movies. Ambition and family loyalty push him to take over his mafia family when he had originally been molded by his father to instead "go clean." Michael's devotion to his family then leads him to murder his enemies, kills his betraying brother, and indirectly leads to the deaths of essentially all of his loved ones. He dies, alone, thinking of his lost loves , a tragic antihero.
• Okonkwo: In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart , Okonkwo is a man of great strength and will, and these heroic traits make him powerful and wealthy in his tribe. But his devotion to always appearing strong and powerful also lead him to alienate his son, break tribal tradition in a way that leads to his exile from the tribe, and to directly confront white missionaries in a way that ultimately leads him to commit suicide. Okonkwo's devotion to strength and power leads to his own destruction.
• Anakin Skywalker: The three prequel Star Wars movies (episodes I, II, and III) can be seen as an attempt to frame Anakin Skywalker into a tragic hero. Anakin is both powerful in the force and a prophesied "chosen one," but his ambition and desire for order and control lead him to abandon and kill fellow Jedi, inadvertently kill his own wife, and to join the dark side of the force and become a kind of enforcer for the Emperor. Anakin, as Darth Vader, is alone and full of such shame and self-hatred that he can see no other option but to continue on his path of evil. This makes him a tragic hero. Having said all that, some would argue that the first three Star Wars movies aren't well written or well acted enough to truly make Anakin a tragic hero (does Anakin really ever have the audience's sympathy given his bratty whininess?), but it's clear that he was meant to be a tragic hero.

What's the Function of a Tragic Hero in Literature?

Above all, tragic heroes put the tragedy in tragedies—it is the tragic hero's downfall that emotionally engages the audience or reader and invokes their pity and fear. Writers therefore use tragic heroes for many of the same reasons they write tragedies—to illustrate a moral conundrum with depth, emotion, and complexity.

Besides this, tragic heroes serve many functions in the stories in which they appear. Their tragic flaws make them more relatable to an audience, especially as compared to a more conventional hero, who might appear too perfect to actually resemble real people or draw an emotional response from the audience. Aristotle believed that by watching a tragic hero's downfall, an audience would become wiser when making choices in their own lives. Furthermore, tragic heroes can illustrate moral ambiguity, since a seemingly desirable trait (such as innocence or ambition) can suddenly become a character's greatest weakness, bringing about grave misfortune or even death.

Other Helpful Tragic Hero Resources

• The Wikipedia Page for Tragic Hero : A helpful overview that mostly focuses on the history of term.
• The Dictionary Definition of Tragic Hero : A brief and basic definition.
• A one-minute, animated explanation of the tragic hero.
• Is Macbeth a Tragic Hero? This video explains what a tragic hero is, using Macbeth as an example .

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Romeo as a Tragic Hero

In this activity, activity overview, template and class instructions, more storyboard that activities, this activity is part of many teacher guides.

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies. It is beneficial for students to understand why is considered so important. One reason is that it contains a tragic hero. This is a protagonist, typically of noble birth, destined for doom. In this play, Romeo clearly fits this description. The famous Greek philosopher, Aristotle, was the first to record the principle attributes of a tragic hero.

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard that shows how Romeo can be considered a tragic hero.

• Click "Start Assignment".
• Identify events of the play or characteristics of Romeo that fit into Aristotelian attributes of a tragic hero.
• Illustrate examples for Hamartia, Hubris, Peripeteia, Anagnorisis, Nemesis, and Catharsis .
• Write a short description below each cell that specifically relates Romeo as a tragic hero.

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 9-10

Difficulty Level 4 (Difficult / Complex)

Type of Assignment Individual or Group

Type of Activity: Tragic Hero

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric .)

How to Teach Tragic Hero Motifs and Archetypes

Introduction to tragic hero motifs and archetypes.

Begin by defining the terms "tragic hero," "motif," and "archetype." Provide an overview of the characteristics that define a tragic hero, such as noble birth, tragic flaw, and reversal of fortune. Explain how tragic hero motifs and archetypes appear in literature and drama.

Analyzing Romeo as a Tragic Hero

Focus on Romeo's character in "Romeo and Juliet" and guide students in analyzing how he embodies the characteristics of a tragic hero. Encourage students to reference specific scenes, actions, and decisions that highlight Romeo's tragic hero status. Discuss how Romeo's character aligns with the classical tragic hero archetype.

Comparative Analysis of Tragic Heroes

Present students with examples of tragic heroes from other literary works or drama. Engage students in a comparative analysis, exploring how these characters share or differ from the tragic hero archetype. Discuss the concept of universality in tragic hero motifs and archetypes.

Creative Writing and Presentation

Assign a creative writing project where students create a modern interpretation of a tragic hero. Provide guidelines for the project, including the incorporation of key tragic hero motifs and archetypes. Explain the presentation format for sharing their modern tragic hero stories.

Frequently Asked Questions about Romeo as a Tragic Hero

What are the defining characteristics of a tragic hero, and how does romeo exemplify these traits in the play.

A tragic hero typically possesses noble qualities, has a tragic flaw that leads to their downfall, experiences a reversal of fortune, recognizes their fate, and evokes feelings of pity and fear in the audience. Romeo exemplifies these traits in "Romeo and Juliet" as a character of noble birth who possesses a tragic flaw, his impulsiveness. His hasty decisions and impulsive actions, such as his quick love for Juliet and the duel with Tybalt, lead to tragic consequences. These actions result in a reversal of his fortune, as he is banished from Verona and separated from Juliet. Romeo is keenly aware of the role of fate in his life, often referring to being "star-crossed." His tragic journey evokes feelings of pity and fear in the audience, as they empathize with his character's impetuous nature.

The defining characteristics of a tragic hero include noble qualities, a tragic flaw, a reversal of fortune, a recognition of fate, and the evocation of pity and fear. In "Romeo and Juliet," Romeo, a member of the noble Montague family, possesses these qualities. His tragic flaw, impulsiveness, leads to his hasty decisions and impulsive actions, such as falling in love with Juliet quickly and engaging in a fatal duel with Tybalt. These actions result in a reversal of his fortune, leading to his banishment and separation from Juliet. Romeo is acutely aware of the role of fate in his life, often referring to being "star-crossed." His tragic journey evokes feelings of pity and fear in the audience, who empathize with his impetuous nature.

How can storyboards and worksheets be employed to help students understand and visually represent the traits of a tragic hero in the context of Romeo's character?

Storyboards and worksheets can help students understand and visually represent Romeo's characteristics as a tragic hero. Students can create visual representations of key scenes, such as Romeo's impulsive decisions, his nobility, the moment of reversal in his fortune, and his recognition of fate. Worksheets can guide students in summarizing and analyzing these characteristics in the context of the play, encouraging them to think critically about how Romeo embodies the traits of a tragic hero. This visual and analytical approach aids in a deeper comprehension of Romeo's character and his role in the tragic narrative.

Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

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Character Analysis of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet | Romeo as a Tragic Hero

Romeo Character Analysis

Table of Contents

Introduction

Being the tragic protagonist in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet , Romeo is handsome, brave and gentle. He is trained in all manly accomplishments. Yet he is without a sufficient purpose in life. He is the slave of emotion. His soul quests for love. His character undergoes development. Romeo changes more than Juliet . He changes from love-sick callowness to steady maturity. There are three stages in which his character develops. In the beginning Romeo moons over Rosaline. In the second stage Romeo falls in love with Juliet , marries her, kills Tybalt and is exiled. In the final stage Romeo kills himself when he receives the false news of the death of Juliet.

Romeo’s First Stage

In the first few scenes Romeo is the Petrarchan lover in the Petrarchan situation. He creates poetical and pitiful phrases in honour of chaste and cold Rosaline . He thinks he loves irresponsive Rosaline. He appears to be in love with Rosaline, but in truth he is in love only with his own idea. He is really like the Duke is Twelfth Night , who sighs for Olivia. He speaks feelingly of love.

“Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs, Being purg’d, a fire sparkling in lovers eyes, Being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers fears ; What is it else? a madness most discreet, A choking gall, and a preserving sweet.”

Romeo: A Very Favourite Character

But even in his first stage Romeo is something more than a vain, melancholy lover. He is noble, generous, virtuous and well-governed. He inspires the affection of his friends — Mercutio , Friar Laurence and Benvolio. He is everybody’s favourite with the single exception of fire-eating Tybalt. His friends and parents are devoted to him. Even Capulet , his enemy, speaks well of him and will not allow him to be molested.

“A bears him like a portly gentleman. And to say truth, Verona brags of him To be a virtuous and well-governed youth. I would not for the wealth of all this town Here in my house do him disparagement,”

Romeo’s Second Stage

Romeo’s passion for Rosaline was a faint shadow of reality. His real emotion of love comes to him when he sees Juliet. The sight of Juliet obliterates Rosaline from his mind. His love is now real, permanent, and complete. He no longer mopes and moons but chooses the course of action. He comes face to face with realities that demand exercise of will, contempt of danger and action. In Juliet’s company he is earnest without losing his gaiety and lightness.

Romeo is a naturally gay and loves pun and fun. Once he is freed from the melancholy of mooning for unresponsive, coldly chaste Rosaline, he becomes witty, as he really is. Once his ardent quest for love is consummated in Juliet, he finds his own. Then he becomes normal, and natural. There is now no rhapsodizing, no sighing. He can now quip merrily and shoot the arrows of wit. He reveals himself Mercutio’s equal in wit and quibbling. Romeo’s skill in verbal dueling is emphasized by comparison with the stodgy contributions made by loyal Benvolio. Mercutio speaks of Romeo, thinking him to be under the baneful influence of Rosaline.

“Alas, poor Romeo, he is already dead –stabbed with a white Wench’s black eye; run through the car with a love song ; the very pin of his heart cleft with the blind bowboy’s butt-shaft. And is he a man to encounter Tybalt?”

But when Romeo , now that his love is realized, proves his worth in the sallies of wit, Mercutio admires him:

“Why is not this better now than groaning for love? Now art thou sociable. Now art thou Romeo. Now art thou what thou art, by art as well as by nature.”

He is now a transformed Romeo. He is in high spirits because he is accepted by his new un-Laura-like love.

Romeo’s Strength and Generosity

Romeo’s youthfulness is now turning to manliness. His refusal to fight when Tybalt challenges him is a sign of strength, not of weakness. To suffer calmly the hateful strutting of Tybalt, and to risk the contempt of Mercutio and Benvolio requires moral courage. It is, in fact, Romeo’s love that makes him refuse to fight Tybalt until Tybalt has killed Mercutio. Shakespeare, as Peter Alexander has pointed out, shows Romeo behaving with exemplary composure and forbearance, though insulted by a quarrelsome bully in the presence of his friends. Mercutio’s death affords Romeo the opportunity to reveal that he is no milk-and-water hero. He kills Tybalt , the expert duelist.

Romeo’s progress to the status of tragic hero is questioned when, after the sentence of banishment, he weeps bitterly. But this lasts only for a short while and later on Romeo rises to the occasion.

Romeo’s Third Stage

In the second stage he is transformed from youth to manhood by love and situations. But his transformation is not complete. Now after his banishment he achieves his full strength. When he is informed of the false death of Juliet, he shows greatest restraint and strength of character. He does not weep.

He speaks to Apothecary with authority “There is thy gold; worse poison to men’s’ souls.” At Juliet’s tomb he calls Paris ‘youth’. The feeling that he is now going to die gives him a maturity beyond his years. Romeo dies the master of his fate.

• Importance of Romeo and Juliet Balcony Scene

Romeo’s Rashness and Maturity

It has been pointed out that Romeo is rash in taking the poison. But his rashness is diminished when we compare him with other characters. T.J.B. Spencer says,

“Our impression of his rashness is to some extent diminished by contrast both with Tybalt and with Mercutio, neither of whom shows any restraint in the murderous pursuit of his ‘honour’.”

Moreover, though his impetuosity remains, there are many small indications of Romeo’s maturing in the fifth Act. Notably he has new concern for others. He feels for the Apothecary as a human being “Buy food and get thy self in flesh.” He arranges for a letter to his parents. He takes thought for his servant Balthasar : “Live, and be prosperous and farewell.” He feels for the plight of young Paris , one writ with him in the misfortune’s book. He begs pardon of Tybalt.

Inexpressible beautiful and moving is this gentleness of Romeo in his death hour. His yearning to be at peace with his foe, his beseeching pardon of him and calling him kinsman in taken of final atonement, his forbearance and even magnanimity towards Paris, his words of closing consideration and kindly farewell to his faithful Balthasar, all combine to crown Romeo as the prince of youthful gentleman and lovers.

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1 thought on “Character Analysis of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet | Romeo as a Tragic Hero”

As a former “English” major, I found this a rewarding read. I’ll have to check out your other posts. But not now. It’s way past my bedtime and I’m tired . . . but alas, not too tired to read about one of my favorite plays. Unfortunately, I lost my complete “writings of Shakespeare” during my last move — that and my Jane Austin complete works. Oh, well, just another excuse to buy a couple of books.

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Exemplar Essay: Romeo as tragic hero

How does Shakespeare present Romeo as a tragic hero?

In this extract from Act V Scene I, Balthasar brings news of Juliet’s supposed death to Romeo.

News from Verona! How now, Balthasar?

Dost thou not bring me letters from the friar?

How doth my lady? Is my father well?

How doth my Juliet? That I ask again,

For nothing can be ill if she be well.

Then she is well and nothing can be ill:

Her body sleeps in Capel’s monument,

And her immortal part with angels lives.

I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault,

And presently took post to tell it you.

O, pardon me for bringing these ill news,

Since you did leave it for my office, sir.

Is it e’en so? Then I defy you, stars!

Thou knowest my lodging, get me ink and paper,

And hire post-horses; I will hence tonight.

I do beseech you, sir, have patience.

Your looks are pale and wild, and do import

Some misadventure.

Tush, thou art deceiv’d.

Leave me, and do the thing I bid thee do.

Hast thou no letters to me from the friar?

No, my good lord.

No matter, get thee gone,

And hire those horses ; I’ll be with thee straight.

Exit Balthasar.

Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight.

Let’s see for means. O mischief, thou art swift

To enter in the thoughts of desperate men!

Consider how:

• Shakespeare presents Romeo as a tragic hero in this extract
• Shakespeare presents Romeo as a tragic hero in the play as a whole

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is about how strong emotions have tragic consequences. Romeo’s impulsive nature, and inability to regulate his emotions, result in him making rash decisions, which contribute to the deaths of multiple characters in the play. Arguably, Romeo’s impulsive decisions could be held responsible for the deaths of all of the characters in the play.

In the extract, Shakespeare makes clear that Romeo is impulsive and impatient. In the opening of the extract, Shakespeare has Romeo ask a series of rapid questions about Juliet, eager to hear news of her from Bathalsar. The use of several questions one after another indicates that Romeo is barely pausing for breath or to allow Balthasar to speak, which indicates that he is extremely patient. Upon hearing of her supposed death, Romeo immediately commands Balthasar to ‘get ink and paper’ and ‘hire those horses’. Shakespeare’s repeated use of commands convey the urgency in Romeo’s voice. It is clear that he is not taking the time to think, but is immediately ordering Balthasar to prepare what he needs to return to Verona. Shakespeare contrasts Romeo’s impulsiveness with Balthasar’s patience when he has Balthasar urge Romeo to ‘have patience’ because he fears that Romeo may have some ‘misadventure’ in mind. Moments later, after Balthasar leaves, Romeo states that he will ‘lie’ with Juliet, which implies that he is planning to kill himself in order to be with her in the tomb. Shakespeare seems to present Romeo in this way in order to emphasise how Romeo’s impulsive nature contributes to the play’s tragedy; if he were able to be patient, as Bathalsar advises, perhaps he would soon have received news from Friar Laurence of Juliet’s plan, and could have avoided the tragic end to both of their lives.

In the extract, Shakespeare also makes clear that Romeo is an extremely passionate character. When Romeo asks Balthasar for news of Juliet, Shakespeare has him say that ‘nothing is ill if she will well’. It is clear therefore that Romeo places all of his happiness in Juliet, and is far more interested in news of Juliet’s welfare than he is to hear news of other friends and family. He was similarly passionate earlier in the play, moments after he first met Juliet, when he described her as the ‘sun’, implying that his whole world revolves around her and that she is his source of warmth and life. The audience had previously seen Romeo passionately declaring his feelings towards Rosaline, so the audience is constantly reminded of the fact that Romeo is a deep-feeling character who often seems unable to manage his emotions; this is his tragic flaw. Shakespeare emphasises the passion and emotion in Romeo’s character in order to warn against acting impulsively upon these feelings. If Romeo were able to manage his emotions more effectively, perhaps he could have avoided placing all hopes in Juliet.

Early in the play, Shakespeare makes clear that Romeo and Juliet are fated to die. In the prologue, Shakespeare describes Romeo and Juliet as a ‘star-crossed lovers’ and their love as ‘death-marked’ in order to make clear to the audience that Romeo and Juliet’s love will meet a tragic end. Before Romeo goes to the Capulet ball, Shakespeare makes further references to fate by having Romeo declare a bad dream that he had and his fear that the ‘stars’ have a negative future planned for him. In inviting the audience to know Romeo’s fate even before the events of the play have begun, Shakespeare invites them to see Romeo as the tragic hero, who is destined for destruction and downfall.

In the play as a whole, Shakespeare demonstrates that Romeo’s impulsive and passionate nature contributes to the deaths of other characters. If Romeo had not been so quick to fall in love with Juliet, not considering the consequences of marrying the daughter of the enemy family, he may not have allowed Mercutio to fight in his place, thus could have avoided Mercutio’s death. If Mercutio had not died, Romeo would not have impulsively murdered Tybalt. Romeo’s impulsive decision to murder Tybalt without considering the consequence results in his banishment, which leads to Lady Montague dying of grief. Romeo’s impulsive decision to kill himself to be with Juliet leads him to murder Paris, who stands in his way at Juliet’s tomb. It also leads to Juliet killing herself. Had he waited, his and Juliet’s deaths could have been avoided. Shakespeare therefore presents Romeo as a tragic hero, whose character flaws lead not only to his own death but to the deaths of multiple other characters in the play.

At the end of the play, Shakespeare uses Romeo’s death to restore order in Verona. In the final moments of the play, Lord Montague and Capulet hold out a hand to one another and agree to end the feud that resulted in the deaths of their children. Both promise to raise a statue in honour of the other’s child. Shakespeare has Prince Escalus state that ‘all are punished’ perhaps because he wants to give a clear message to the audience, and to the characters, that all are responsible for the play’s tragic end. It is clear therefore that Romeo and Juliet have not died in vain. Although the play has a deeply tragic ending, there is hope that peace will be restored in Verona for the first time in years.

In conclusion, it is clear that many of Romeo’s actions make him the typical tragic hero, with a major character weakness that not only brings about his own destruction, but also the destruction of others. Shakespeare could be using Romeo’s character to challenge weaknesses in the human condition. At times our inability to regulate our emotions, our selfishness and our impulsiveness can have disastrous consequences. It seems we can all learn from the mistakes made by Romeo.

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Romeo And Juliet: Romeo – A Tragic Hero Analysis

Shakespeare is a well known author who wrote in the 1500’s. Many of hisplays are classified as tragedies. According to the Oxford dictionary ofcurrent English, a tragedy is described as a serious disaster or a sad event.

In Shakespeare plays, tragedy is identified as a story that ends unhappily dueto the fall of the protagonist, which is the tragic hero. For a play to be atragedy, there must be a tragic hero. In the play Romeo and Juliet, Romeo isthe tragic hero. The theme of tragedy plays a great role in the play Romeo andJuliet. By analyzing Romeo’s tragic flaw, his noble birth, his series of poordecisions, the suffering of Romeo that extends beyond himself, it is evidentthat Romeo and Juliet is classified as a tragedy.

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A person must posses certain qualities that classify one as a tragichero. One of these qualities is the noble birth of a character. In the playRomeo and Juliet Romeo being the tragic hero, possesses that quality. Romeo isa Montague, and in the city of Verona the Montagues are a well known andrespected family. It is a known fact that the Montagues are of noble birth whenit is said by Benvolio in Act 1, Scene 1, Line 141: “My noble uncle.” Benvoliois referring to Lord Montague, who is the father of Romeo. The Montagues arealso a rich family, and that is one of the reasons for the respect for Romeo.

“Verona brags of him a bears him like a partly gentleman.” This was said byLord Capulet in Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 65-66. This quote illustrates that evenRomeo’s enemies know well of him and know that he is respected and talked aboutby the citizens of Verona. Usually when a character is introduced as beingnoble, the audience is aware that in the end of the play, the character willhave a tragic fall.

Another necessary quality possessed by a tragic hero is the hero’stragic flaw, which in Romeo’s case is falling in love too quickly and deeply. “To seek a tragic flaw in either Romeo or Juliet is a foolish and futile.” -comments Harold Goddard, a critic from the book: ” Modern critical views,William Shakespeare the Tragedies.” Goddard supports the idea that having atragic flaw is a part of being a tragic hero. Another critic states that ” ifRomeo’s character does have a tragic flaw, it is youthful impetuosity; an olderor more deliberate man might somehow have managed to avoid the quarrel and wouldnot rush to kill himself as soon as he believed that Juliet was dead. In the play Romeo and Juliet romeo’stragic fall being he falls in love too quickly and too deeply, brings him to anawful end. In the beginning of the play one is introduced to Romeo being deeplyand hopelessly in love with Rosaline. However Rosaline does not feel the sameway about Romeo. This is when Romeo is unhappy and says to Benvolio: “Nothaving that which makes having short. This verywell illustrates how deeply Romeo was in love with Rosaline. In the next scenethe audience realize that Romeo ha fallen for another, which is Juliet. “For Ine’er saw true beauty till this night.” -Said by Romeo in Act 1, Scene 5, Line52.The audience can quickly identify Romeo’s flaw of falling in love too quicklyand deeply when he forgets about his feelings for Rosaline and concentrates onJuliet. Juliet too realizes that Romeo’s love for her was too fast when shesaid : “It is too rash, too undvis’d, too sudden. Having a tragic flaw could be foreshadowing of the fall of the tragichero.

Rome being the play’s tragic hero makes a series of poor decisions. Thefirst decision of many was going to the Capulet’s party. ” Direct my sail! Ohlusty gentlemen.” Says Romeo in Act 1, Scene 4, Line 113. If Romeo did not goto the party he would not have met Juliet. It was unnecessary for Romeo to tryto stop the fight between Tybalt and Mercutio. If Romeo did not try to stop thefight, Mercutio would not have been killed, and the fight between Romeo andTybalt would not have existed. Romeo says in Act 3, Scene 1, Line 94 : “Courage, man; the hurt can not be much.”, when he tries to stop the fightbetween Tybalt and Mercutio. Romeo makes the wrong choice when he decides tofight Tybalt for the death of Mercutio. “Either thou, or I, or both, must gowith him.This quote refers to Romeo’s challengefor Tybalt. If Romeo did not fight Tybalt he would not have been banished fromVerona. Another one of Romeo’s poor decisions was the decision to commitsuicide, which was also his last decision. “O true apothecary, thy drugs arequick, thus with a kiss I die.” Said Romeo in Act 5, Scene 3, Line 120, rightbefore he died. If only Romeo decided not to drink the poison he would havebeen alive to see Juliet wake. All these decisions caused Romeo, the tragichero, to end his life tragically.

The suffering of the tragic hero also extends beyond himself. Due tothe actions of Romeo, Mercutio and Tybalt died. “When he tries to make peacebetween them and Mercutio is fatally wounded, Romeo remarks pathetically ‘Ithought out for the best.’ “- Comments Phillis Rackin author of ShakespeareTragedies. “Mercutio’s soul is but a little way above our heads”, remarks Romeoafter Mercutio’s death, caused by Romeo. Tybalt’s death also results fromRomeo’s poor actions. After Romeo’s death Lady Montague dies of a heart attack.

Lord Montague says to the Prince in Act 5, Scene 3, Line 209: “Alas my leige, mywife is dead tonight.” Because of Romeo, Juliet decides upon her own death.

She argues with her father, drinks the potion, and later stabs herself, all forthe love for Romeo. Verona’s peace is disturbed by all the commotion of thefights between the Capulets and the Montagues, caused mainly by Romeo. There isstill no peace in the streets of Verona. The families of both Romeo and Julietsuffer over the loss of their children, and everyone is unhappy. Since Romeobrought suffering upon people rather than himself, he is truly the tragic heroand makes the play Romeo and Juliet a tragedy.

It is obvious that in the play Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is the tragichero. This is evident when the audience see Romeo’s noble birth, his tragicflaw, series of poor decisions he made and the fact that through his actions hebrought suffering upon other people. Most plays, stories or novels have a moral.

The moral of Romeo and Juliet is not to rush into things like love, hate andimportant decisions. All people should think twice about every decision theyare making. From all the evidence stated in this paragraph along with theparagraphs above it is said that Romeo and Juliet is classified as a tragedy.

WORKS CONSULTED

Bloom, Nasold. Modern critical views. William shakespeare the Tragedies.1985Rackin, Phillis. Shakespeare’s Tragedies. 1978Brodley, A.C. Shakespearian Tragedy. 1986Oxford school Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet. 1982

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Example Of How Is Romeo A Tragic Hero Essay

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Shakespeare , Love , Death , Poison , Hero , Romeo and Juliet , Literature , Theater

Published: 12/05/2019

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1. Romeo is one of the tragic heroes of Shakespeare, who because of the various tragedies and circumstances committed suicide at the end of play. As we know that no human on the earth is perfect, every one is having some or other kind of flaws. Romeo is reflecting a personality who very quickly falls in love and who is having high pride and is not capable to take right decisions.

In the first act Romeo is in love with Rosaline, who rejected his proposal. When Romeo saw Juliet he instantly falls in love with her and decided to marry her on the same day. After their marriage Romeo murdered his enemy Tybalt. Because of the murder Romeo was driven out from Verona. After hearing news of death of Juliet he decided to come to Verona. On his way back to Verona he bought poison and After seeing dead Juliet Romeo consumed poison without knowing the fact that she was sleeping and her death was staged.

In the whole play, decisions taken by Romeo were without thinking about the consequences. Romeo’s wrong decisions got him into trouble and finally ended up with death of Romeo and Juliet.

2. Tragic hero represents a person who suffers a lot because of destiny and finally causes death of hero. Romeo was a tragic hero in the play. Throughout the play destiny played with Romeo and from falling in love with Juliet an enemy’s daughter to killing of Tybalt and finally poison consumption. In all these steps Romeo could have controlled himself but he did not think logically and without giving a thought of consequences he took all the decisions.

Romeo and Juliet could have been lived happier together if Romeo have not killed Tybalt and not consumed poison. His misfortune and irrational behavior took him and Juliet to the death.

Drama. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2011, from www.furman.weebly.com: http://furman.weebly.com/uploads/5/1/7/6/5176248/drama.pdf William Shakespeare and Janie B. Yates-Glandorf. (2004). Romeo and Juliet . Logan: Perfection Learning Corporation.

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Romeo: a tragic hero. Revision lesson with essay and full sample answer (AQA/OCR)

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

9 January 2024

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A super clear, colourful 50 slide powerpoint that covers the character of Romeo as a tragic hero in ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

There are plenty of opportunities for students to work individually, in pairs or small groups, depending on the class dynamics. There are sample answers for all tasks and engaging activities which help students improve their skills.

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To what extent is Romeo a tragic hero?

“The fearful passage of their death-marked love” Even from the beginning of the play we know that the lovers are doomed to be struck by tragedy but to what extent is Romeo a tragic hero? Is he even one at all? In this essay I will explore the reasons why I do and why I do not think that Romeo is a complete tragic hero.

        There are many things that make a tragic hero. He is an individual of some high rank or status. Romeo comes from a high status family, the Montagues who are at daggers drawn with a rival family the Capulets, the family that Juliet is from. The two families are both of equal status “Two households both alike in dignity”. We can tell that Romeo is from a high family because of a number of things. Firstly Romeo’s family have a number of servants, which suggests that they have money and power. You can also get clues from looking at Juliet’s family. Juliet is laid in the Capulet vault. A vault is something that only people of a high status would have to be the final resting place of the generations of the family. “The same ancient vault where all the kindred of the Capulets lie” It is therefore expected that Romeo’s family would have one too. Also Juliet has been raised by a nurse and it doesn’t seem like Lady Capulet has had much to do with it as she can’t cope with Juliet on her own “Nurse come back again”. Only people of high status could do this and as the two families are of equal status, Romeo must be an individual of high rank. He fits into this characteristic of a tragic hero. This makes him tragic, as it seemed that he could have anything, money, servants except a peaceful married life to Juliet. It is partly because of his status and family that it ends like it does. If he had been from another family would this have happened? It is his family name that helps cause the tragedy “Tis but thy name that is my enemy” You cannot help the family that you are born into and neither can Romeo alter the fact that he is a Montague but that name does not change who you are. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose would by any other word smell just as sweet.”

         Romeo is still very young and so has not made a mark on Verona yet. This makes him more tragic because he has not had a chance to and will never get a chance to make his mark. His early death makes the audience feel more pity for Romeo.  We can empathise with the characters because they are real people with good noble characteristics, but they are proved to be human as Romeo has a flaw in his character which is shown so many times in the play. For example he lets his emotions overcome him and does not think of the consequences. An example of this is when he kills Paris and Tybalt. Romeos’ flawed character and the tragedy in his life makes the audience  feel sad for him, and feel his pain.  It inspires us and we are moved by the hero’s plight as it feels like they can identify more with the characters pain. This is an example of catharsis, which is a characteristic of a tragic hero.

Throughout the play Romeo displays another trait of a tragic hero, he moves from happiness to disaster.  The action moves towards catastrophe, all through the play we are given ominous signs that it will end in tragedy.  The prologue tells you that the play will end with death “a pair of star-crossed lovers take their lives”.  You also find out that the two families have been feuding for so many years, “from ancient grudge break new mutiny” that the love between the children of these families will find it hard to survive and it will end badly.  This is tragic because even before the first page you know that the lovers are doomed and do not have a chance of it ending well. Everything is against them. Things seem to be going well as he has just married Juliet and is happy but then Tybalts death sparks off a chain of disasterous events.

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        All throughout the play religious imagery is used especially when Romeo and Juliet speak to each other “this holy shrine the gentle sin is this”, “good pilgrim”, and “dear saint”, This religious imagery makes the two lovers seem innocent and also makes it much more serious and also is quite ominous as thinking about religion has a connotation with death. It is not a good sign that the language used throughout the play, particularly when they first meet, conjures images of death.  Juliet also says “my grave is like to be my wedding bed”.  This is ironic and tragic because she does die on her “ second wedding day” wearing her wedding dress.  The imagery of death as her bridegroom keeps appearing throughout the play, “Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir, My daughter he hath wedded” this isn’t a good sign for them, as when the play was set marriage was for life, it was sealed and binding and once you were married that was it.  So Juliet’s marriage to death makes it sound ominous because it sounds like there is no way that they can escape death.  It is inevitable. There is lots of natural imagery of the universe and the elements “My bounty is as boundless as the sea” This shows that their love is very natural however Friar Lawrence uses a metaphor for the good and evil in the world which is ominous because he is saying that for everything good there is something evil to balance things out. The good of their love is set against the feud and out of the evil came good but out of their love there will be an evil to balance it out, as that is all part of nature. Because their love is so natural this makes you think that something bad will happen to it.   There is also imagery of light and dark and good and evil. “So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows” and “what is her burying grave that is her tomb” Friar Lawrence is also referred to as “Ghostly sire” This is ominous as ghostly has a connotation with death. All of this language makes you feel everything is coming to this inevitable ending and that it is sealed so you can’t get away from it.  Romeos’ fortune moves from good to disastrous the day after his wedding day.  A fight starts between the two families Romeo tries to reach out the hand of peace to Tybalt, but Tybalt wants to keep fighting as he enjoys it.  Tybalt kills Mecutio and Romeos kills Tybalt out of revenge.  Romeo has now gone from the happiest day of his life, his wedding day, to being banished to Mantua, with lady Capulet wanting him dead.  She is very vengeful and wants revenge for Tybalt’s death.

        During the play Romeo ends up killing innocents.  A good example of this is when Romeo kills Paris. Again this shows clearly the flaw in his character and proves him to be human.This is demonstraited again when he kills Tybalt out of revenge and because his emotions have got the better of him. It is a crime of passion.  Paris seems particularly innocent because he knows nothing about Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.  He has just been caught up and led along by Capulet to marry Juliet.  Romeo kills Paris out of anger. The tragic hero isn’t completely virtuous and Romeo proves here that he fits into this characteristic of a tragic hero.

        Romeo is definitely a victim of fate.  He almost gives himself up to it, “but he that hath the steerage of my course direct my sail”, and surrenders himself to it.  Right from the start Romeo is a tragic hero because he knows something bad will happen, he has predicted the future.  He had a dream, which told him that something would begin the night of the party, that will have a very bad effect after it, “some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin this fearful date”.  Romeo has misgivings but decides to let fate do whatever it wants and in that way he makes himself a victim of fate, as it seems that fate had tried to warn him.  He trusts in fate but also tempts it. In Act 2 scene 6 Romeo shows that he believes he can overcome fate with his love, but he is being very arrogant in doing so This is ominous and he is tempting fate to test his happiness, He claims that no one can take it away from him as he has seen Juliet. “Then love-devouring Death do what he dare It is enough that I may call her mine” He has tempted fate and by the ending it is almost as though fate has answered him, and Tested his happiness as he asked it to.  Again he has made himself the victim of fate. “ O I am fortunes fool”  

        Tragic heroes are involved in the struggle with fate, and as tragedy calls nothing accident it’s as though it’s all planned to end this way.  It’s a moral story.  This is what will happen if you are in this situation.  All this makes him a tragic hero because after all he is still only human with flaws and he is struggling against an almighty force, which he could have no chance of beating. Fate can be blamed for their deaths. All throughout the play there are references of this “the yoke of inauspicious” Even the prologue suggests this “star-crossed lovers. The language used all points to this being a major influence in their deaths.  Fate is such a big part in the play that when Juliet tempted it you knew that it was not a good sign. When Lady Capulet thinks that Juliet is crying over Tybalts' death Juliet and wishes Romeo dead Juliet not only agrees with her but she also makes a point of how she wants him dead too. “Indeed I never shall be satisfied With Romeo until I behold him-dead”. This is tempting fate and is not a wise thing to do. Again it is almost by the ending as though she got her wish of seeing him dead.

  In some ways I think that Romeo is quite courageous and this is a quality demonstraited by tragic Heroes.  He knows that the families are feuding, but when Tybalt tries to start a fight he stretches out the hand of peace to him.  Mercutio, Romeos’ best friend really wants to fight Tybalt, “draw Benvolio and bid down their weapons” and Romeo shows courage by standing up to peer pressure by refusing to fight, even thought Mercutio will be disgusted by it, “O calm, dishonourable, vile submission” this is a very hard thing to do.  He also shows the sort of courage when he kills himself.  It is a very scary thing to do, but he overcomes his fear and does it.  However you may feel about this, courage is about overcoming fear and showing bravery, and that is exactly what Romeo did.  Particularly as Romeos always talks about his feelings and never does anything about them.  An example of this is when he was in love with Rosaline he was always talking about love and dragging everybody else down. Romeo thinks he loves Rosaline but he speaks insincerely, which makes us think that he isn’t really in love.

        Tragic Heros have some tragic flaw in their character and Romeo lets his feelings rule him, and this is  the tragic flaw that kills him.  He lets his emotions overtake him, and therefore rushes into things without thinking about them.  He reacts too quickly.  A good example of this is in Mantua when Balthasar tells him Juliet is dead and in half a page he goes from being happy to determining to kill himself.  If he had had not rushed into this things might have been different, and Friar Lawrence might have been able to get word to Romeo about their plan.  Romeo rushes into marriage to Juliet as well.  Friar Lawrence thinks that he is going to fast and warns him to slow down, “Wisely and slow they stumble that run fast”.  Romeo doesn’t listen and they get married anyway.  This is part of the reason for his death and is another part of his flaw.  He doesn’t listen to the warnings fate has given him either.  He acts without thinking things through, without considering the consequences.  When he kills Tybalt is a good example.  Tybalt is Juliet’s cousin and a Capulet.  He has just killed Mecutio Romeo’s best friend.  When Romeo kills Tybalt he does it purely out of vengeance, it is a crime of passion.  He has let his emotions control him, and doesn’t think.  This leads to him being banished to Mantua, which leads to Juliet drinking the potion, which leads to their deaths. From here onwards everything goes wrong for the lovers. “This day’s black fate on moe days doth depend” Romeo did not want to kill Tybalt really as he offered the hand of peace.  Romeo did not want to fight and doesn’t see the point in it.  He didn’t set out intending to kill Tybalt; “And so good Capulet which name I tender as my own be satisfied” it was just his emotions that made him act that way.  This shows Romeo isn’t completely virtuous, but not evil either.  It also shows up his tragic flaw and the way he misjudges situations and reacts to quickly.  This is the characteristic of a tragic hero.  Romeo also believes love can so anything it wants to.  He believes it won’t be found out or caught.  This is what makes him sneak into the grounds to see Juliet. “With loves light wings did I o’erperch these walls for stony limits cannot hold love out” This is a metaphor for him being a bird, love is what got him here, and love is what makes him feel invincible.  This is another part of his tragic flaw.

        Romeo shows arrogance and hubris, he tempts fate a lot in the play.” Then I defy you stars” He takes Paris and Tybalts life, which isn’t appropriate for him to do.  Romeo uses religious imagery, in religion life is regarded as sacred and should only be ended by the hand of God. It is not up to anybody else.  Then for Romeo to commit two murders we feel like he is being very arrogant and tempting fate.  He also marries Juliet without parental consent.  This leads to her parents thinking she is free to marry Paris, which leads to her taking the potion ending in their death.  Romeo also shows arrogance in taking his own life.  He is doing what it isn’t natural to do,” thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open and in despite I’ll cram thee with more food”.  Romeo personifies the vault saying it has stuffed its mouth with dead bodies, but he will force the doors open and add himself to the bodies.  Cramming something with more food is not natural, and Romeo is doing this un- natural thing, he is being arrogant.  This is a flaw in his character.  If he was not arrogant he would not be able to kill himself and maybe things would have turned out differently.  

        Romeo by the end of the play has changed; he has grown up a lot.  He seems older because he has found true love, and does not appear as young.  He is also more understanding, as when Paris dies he asked to be placed with Juliet, and Romeo does this for him.  He does not know about Paris’ marriage to Juliet so this action shows he has a heart and that he is capable of mercy and kindness, proving again that he is not completely virtuous nor evil.  When he goes to see the apothecary he sees his need, paying his poverty, which proves he is caring.  At the beginning when he talks about Rosaline it is hollow and not real love, “Thy love did read by rote, that could not spell” but by the end he knows what true love is and that real love acts it does not just speak.  Romeo starts off innocent but by the end that has all changed as he has murdered two men.  

        Romeo talks in a grand poetic style as do most tragic heroes.  Romeo and Juliet talk to each other in sonnets with rhyming couplets.  If the characters speak in poetry they are usually high status characters.  It makes them different and separates them out from the other characters like the servants and the nurse as they have a much lower status . When you read sonnets it sounds musical. Music is the food of love so it backs up the fact that Romeo and Juliet are in love and separates them out from the other characters who are not. Also when Romeo speaks in poetry it sounds as though all the words are just flowing and pouring out uncontrollably like all his emotions and feelings. This shows that Romeo is always letting his feelings run high and control him  

As you can see, Romeo definitely is to some extent a tragic hero, but there are other factors to blame in the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Tybalt can also be attributed some of the blame because of his love of fighting. He just finds any excuse to start a fight whereas Romeo tried to make peace with Tybalt and only ended up fighting because of his flawed character which makes him give in to emotion . This led to the death of Mercutio and then Tybalt. Romeos’ banishment, Friar Lawrence’s plan and then the Deaths of Romeo and Juliet then follow as a concequence of this. “I will withdraw but this intrusion shall now seemingly sweet convert to bitt’rest gall”

You could also say that it was chance. "Oh fortune, Fortune all men call thee fickle” Juliet personifies fortune saying that It is so fickle that no one knows what will happen to them in their lives so maybe no one can really be blamed for the events. There are lots of examples of this for example the accidental meeting of Peter with the invitation list to Capulet’s party and the non-delivery of Friar Lawrence’s letter “Unhappy fortune”

Adolescent passion could also be to blame. All throughout the play, things were rushed and hasty. They had only just met when they decide to get married. The opposition of youth and age demonstrates this. Romeos passion is evident “I stand on sudden haste” Romeo lets his passion control him as I stated earlier. Friar Lawrence even warns Romeo about he dangers of loving that passionately “These violent delights have violent ends” “Therefore love moderately, long love doth so too swift arrives as tardy as too slow” Romeo doesn’t listen to this advice and he is ruled by his passion for Juliet. Romeo’s hastiness and passion get the better of him when he kills Tybalt and that leads to their deaths

The feud could also be to blame. The two families struggle for power and the two families grow up hating each other. Tybalt feels that the “honour of my kin” has been insulted by Romeo’s presence at the feast. Because of this Mercutio dies and Romeo is provoked into "Fire-eyed fury” and enacts revenge upon Tybalt, which leads to their deaths. Also if the families were not feuding Romeo and Juliet would just have been able to share their love in the open and marry with the parental consent Apart from the feud they would probably Capulet and Lady Capulet would probably think  Romeo a good match for Juliet as he was from a high status family just like the Capulets.

The two fathers also share a part in the blame. It seems that the fathers hold absolute sway over their daughters. They may give them to whomever they chose and are insulted if the daughters choose otherwise. Juliet makes that choice and incurs the wrath of Capulet “….go with Paris to Saint Peters church or I will drag thee on a hurdle hither!” He forces Juliet to marry Paris which makes her in desperation take the potion which leads to their deaths so in a way the male dominated society is to blame.

I believe that Romeo is a tragic hero as he displays throughout the play many characteristics of one. He is an individual of high status, the audience is moved by his plight, he has a tragic flaw in his character that leads to his death and shows arrogance. He also shows courage and is not completely virtuous nor evil and he is involved in a struggle with fate. However I also think that other factors like the male dominated society, the feud and fortune can be blamed for the death of Romeo and Juliet and that the other characters also played apart in this tragedy

Dawn grant 11s

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• Subject English

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The Tragic Hero in "Othello": Examining Othello's Flaws and Downfall

Words: 917 | Pages: 4

Introduction to the concept of a tragic hero in literature

In the realm of Shakespearean drama, this archetype is meticulously embodied in numerous protagonists, offering profound insights into the human condition. "Othello," one of William Shakespeare's most celebrated tragedies, presents an exemplary study of a tragic hero through its titular character. Othello's illustrious status as a respected military leader and his initially noble qualities align with the Aristotelian model. It is precisely these virtues that are manipulated and turned against him, laying bare his vulnerabilities. Othello’s tragic flaw, often debated among scholars as either jealousy or an inherent insecurity stemming from his status as an outsider in Venetian society, sets the stage for his dramatic fall from grace. The exploration of Othello’s character allows for a nuanced discussion on how societal pressures and personal imperfections intertwine to catalyze a hero’s downfall. As such, examining Othello within the framework of a tragic hero not only enriches our understanding of Shakespeare’s intentions but also illuminates broader themes regarding human nature and the paradoxes of personal excellence.

Othello's noble stature and virtues

It is precisely these noble traits that render Othello vulnerable to manipulation and tragedy. His trust and openness, while commendable qualities in themselves, become liabilities in the hands of Iago, who exploits these virtues for his own nefarious purposes. Othello's deep love for Desdemona, which should be his source of strength, instead becomes the weapon used to unravel him. His inability to reconcile his public persona with his personal insecurities about race and status create a fertile ground for jealousy—a flaw skillfully ignited by Iago's machinations. The tragic irony lies in how Othello’s very greatness contributes to his downfall; his decisiveness and confidence on the battlefield morph into impulsivity and gullibility off it. Thus, Shakespeare crafts a tragic hero whose fall is as much a product of external manipulations as it is of internal conflicts—highlighting how even the most virtuous individuals are not immune to destruction when their strengths are turned against them.

The tragic flaw: Jealousy and its impact on Othello's judgment

The catastrophic consequences of Othello's jealousy extend beyond his personal torment; they culminate in the ultimate tragedy—the murder of Desdemona. Herein lies the profound impact of Othello's tragic flaw on not only his judgment but also on the lives intertwined with his. The transformation from a loving husband to a murderer underscores the extent of jealousy's destructive power. It is not merely Othello's peace of mind or reputation that is compromised but also the very essence of what he cherishes most—his love for Desdemona. Shakespeare uses this tragic outcome to emphasize that unchecked jealousy can obliterate the foundations of trust and love, leading to irreversible consequences. In doing so, he not only delineates the personal tragedy of Othello but also illuminates a universal cautionary tale about the perils of allowing base instincts to cloud judgment and dominate reason.

Manipulation by Iago: External forces leading to Othello's downfall

The role of external forces in Othello’s downfall underscores a critical aspect of Shakespearean tragedy: the societal context within which the protagonist operates. Iago’s manipulation exploits not only Othello’s personal insecurities but also the racial prejudices and cultural dynamics of Venetian society. By leveraging these societal prejudices, Iago creates an environment ripe for sowing seeds of doubt and jealousy in Othello's mind. This manipulation highlights how societal attitudes and biases can fuel a tragic hero's downfall as much as individual character flaws. Shakespeare’s depiction of Iago’s role thus serves as a commentary on the broader societal forces that contribute to the unraveling of noble characters like Othello. The interplay between individual vulnerabilities and external manipulations in "Othello" offers profound insights into the multifaceted nature of tragedy, where personal imperfections are exploited by others within a conducive social milieu.

The consequences of Othello’s flaws: Desdemona’s murder and Othello’s suicide

The culmination of these tragic events in Othello’s suicide is both an admission of guilt and a final act of agency. By taking his own life, Othello attempts to regain some semblance of honor in a world where he has lost everything due to his flaws. His suicide is a complex gesture—both an escape from the unbearable reality he has created and a self-imposed punishment for his actions. In his final speech, Othello tries to reconcile his noble self-image with his deeds, reflecting on how jealousy led him astray from reason and virtue. This tragic end serves as a poignant reflection on the consequences of human frailty, emphasizing that even heroes can fall prey to their darker impulses. Through Othello’s demise, Shakespeare leaves audiences contemplating the delicate balance between virtue and vulnerability, suggesting that awareness and humility are essential in guarding against our inherent imperfections.

Conclusion: The tragedy of Othello as a reflection of human vulnerability and error

Othello's demise exemplifies how a singular flaw, when exploited and magnified against a backdrop of societal pressures and personal insecurities, can lead to an individual's undoing. The tragedy lies not only in the loss of lives but also in the erosion of integrity and love, corrupted by baseless doubts and fears. As such, "Othello" transcends its Elizabethan origins to speak to universal themes of love, jealousy, trust, and betrayal—emotions and experiences as relevant today as they were in Shakespeare’s time. In dissecting the tragedy of Othello, we gain insight into our vulnerabilities and are reminded of the importance of vigilance against our lesser impulses. Shakespeare’s masterpiece thus stands as a compelling cautionary tale about the complexities of the human heart and the precariousness of virtue when confronted with our all-too-human flaws.

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But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness.

"At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident."

"On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot foresee the pain and trouble that are bound to ensue."

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The tragic hero in "othello": Examining othello's flaws and downfall. (2024, May 13). Pro-Papers. Retrieved May 17, 2024, from https://pro-papers.com/samples/literature/othello/the-tragic-hero-in--othello---examining-othello-s-flaws-and-downfall

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The Tragic Hero in "Othello": Examining Othello's Flaws and Downfall , 2024. [online]. (updated 13 May. 2024) Available at: [Accessed 17 May 2024].

The tragic hero in "othello": Examining othello's flaws and downfall. [Internet]. Pro-Papers. 2024 May 13. [cited 2024 May 17]. Available from: https://pro-papers.com/samples/literature/othello/the-tragic-hero-in--othello---examining-othello-s-flaws-and-downfall

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