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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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Since humans romanticize war, Death can strike any family. This is demonstrated in Luis Valdez, in the 1969 play,”The Buck Private” demonstrates that. Valdez supports hi argument by illustrating stock characters, by using death as a main character, and flashbacks show Johnny’s, the protagonist,reasons for enlisting to earn respect, and the consequences of his enlistment; his death. Valdez’s purpose is to entertain the audience and protest the Vietnam War so that the audience stops glamorizing war and starts recognizing its dangers. Valdez writes in a satirical tone for young adults.

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When he decided to hurtle himself into the blazing and scorching church to save those children, he risked his life. In the novel, Ponyboy speaks about Johnny at that moment. “He looked over his shoulder and saw that the door was blocked by flames, then pushed open the window and tossed out the nearest kid… his face; it was marked from falling embers and sweat-streaked, but he grinned at me. That was the only time I can think of when I saw him without him without that defeated, suspicious look in his eyes”(Hinton, 95). Amidst all the mistreatment and neglect from his parents, along with his trauma from the attack from the Socs, Johnny was always suspicious and scared.

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