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Johnny As A Tragic Hero In The Buck Private

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Have you ever read about the downfall of many tragic heroes in classic literature? Such as Oedipus in Oedipus Rex or in William Shakespeares Macbeth, in which the protagonist's fatal flaw is ambition, in contrast, in The Buck Private, by Luis Valdez (1965), the protagonist Johnny cannot entirely a tragic hero because he does not possess several of the necessary characteristics of a tragic hero; A tragic hero is usually a noble character with an admirable life and traits. Additionally, Johnny enlisted in the war for selfish desires and glorified his inevitable demise. Johnny’s death is not a result of bravery or his own volition but rather a consequence of the war and the circumstances in which he finds himself.
As a character, Johnny does not have an admirable life. Portrayed as an average, low-middle-class …show more content…

On the other hand, I believe Johnny wants to go to war for the wrong reason and romanticizes his death. For example, as Johnny is going to retrieve Celia, he thinks, “Her parents don't like me, I know. They think I'm a good for nothing. Maybe they'll feel different when I'm back from Nam.” Johnny admitted to himself that he wants Celia’s parents' respect or approval and going to war is how he sees best to do so. Further, Johnny thinks about dying in Vietnam and how his casket will be adorned, “I might even get killed. If I do, they'll bring me back in a box covered with a flag…” (pg.2) This emphasizes how Johnny almost likes the thought of going to war to die and receive a military funeral to gain respect and valor from the grave. Tragic heroes in the classic sense do not anticipate their deaths, it is usually a surprise due to a fault or a fatal

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