King Lear Tragic Hero Essay

The great Greek philosopher Aristotle set forth premises about who a tragic hero is, how the hero acts, and what happens to the hero. And though many people automatically assume that Shakespeare’s character King Lear in “King Lear” is a tragic hero, is this assumption correct? Based on the play “King Lear,” assuming King Lear is a tragic hero would be correct, but why is he a tragic hero? King Lear fits Aristotle’s basic ideas regarding a tragic hero in that his downfall is his own fault, his misfortune is not wholly deserved, and that although Lear is pre-eminently great, he is not perfect. One way King Lear fits Aristotle’s basic description of a tragic hero is that Lear’s downfall is his own fault. Early on in Act I, Scene 1, King Lear

A tragic hero cannot be perfect, how would a regular person relate to someone who is perfect? The audience should see the tragic hero as someone who is just like them, just with elevated position. Continuing, this characteristic of Lear is shown early and often in the play. The characteristic is shown in the way Lear decides to divide up his land. This characteristic is shown in how temperamental he is. This characteristic is shown in the choices he makes; for example, when Lear banished Cordelia, his favorite daughter, and Kent, one of his most trusted friends. Lear falls from such a lofty perch to rock bottom in Act III when he is left outside in a raging storm. Scene 1 shows Lear’s temperament. In a modern translation of “King Lear,” a gentleman states,” He tears his white hair, which rushing winds, in blind rage, catch in teir fury and blow about disrespectfully.” Lear shows his imperfect attitude in this scene and others, for instance, when he refused to disband his group of knights. This temperamental attitude and bad choices show that Lear proves Aristotle’s basic idea. Lear was once pre-eminently great, but he is not