Romeo And Juliet Tragic Hero Essay

In any tragedy, the tragic hero is faced with hardships. The author shows these hardships by having the hero deal with their own tragic flaw or mistakes they may have. Though, these flaws are of basic human nature- they lead to the heroes' demolition or downfall. As the story goes on the hero helps us experience catharsis, which helps readers feel relieved about their own faults. Three main theories of the tragic hero are the Aristotelian (Greek) model, the Shakespearean model, and the modern tragic hero. Each model has five defining characteristics which are nobility, hamartia, downfall, anagnorisis, and suffering. In the Shakespearean mode of tragedy, the play Romeo and Juliet best models the tragic hero. For instance, nobility is characterized

The tragic hero also has a downfall where his circumstances are reversed and he gradually loses power. In Romeo's example, his continuation of his path to impulsivity causes Juliet to seek the Friar for guidance. The Friar devised a plan for Juliet to take a sleeping potion. In Shakespearean tragedy the anagnorisis, or the change from ignorance to the recognition of the hamartia, is not always realized by the tragic hero. Romeo does not recognize the destruction of his thoughtless actions. Lastly, the tragic hero endures suffering or death that is not only contained to himself, as Romeo does after he dies, he leaves Lady Capulet without a daughter. Through the five characteristics, the Shakespearean tragic hero follows a downward spiral from nobility to suffering, ending in a catastrophe that brings insight into human nature. Similar to Romeo, but in real life, the famous singer Jimi Hendrix best represents the Shakespearean (Elizabethean) tragic hero model. The concept of a tragic hero can also be applied to real life individuals. For example, Jimi Hendrix, known as a skilled singer and guitar player, began his life as a common man before attaining high status in the eyes of

In the beginning, Hendrix was raised by his mother Lucille who had his name legalized to Johnny Allen Hendrix. Unable to care for Hendrix properly, however he was raised by his neighbors and relatives. In 1945, his father was discharged from the military, and provided care for Jimi, and in 1946, changed his name to James Marshall Hendrix (one). Hendrix went to school in Seattle. Following his parents’ divorce in 1951, Hendrix and his brothers lived with their father. After witnessing Hendrix trying to play guitar on a broom, his father gifted him his first guitar. Hendrix ended up dropping out of school and started playing in local bands. While he was left handed, he generally played right-handed guitars strung upside down and backwards. In 1961, Hendrix enlisted in the army, he was discharged in 1962. After his discharge, he played guitar in Nashville. Supporting performers such as Curtis Mayfield and Little Richie. He moved to New York in 1964, he played with other well known performers. In 1966, he created his own band, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. While performing in New York City, he was invited to work in London. Soon after he arrived in London, the Jimi Hendrix Experience was formed. In the end, Hendrix prevailed through his suffrage and shared his passion for music and