Character Analysis Essay on Romeo as a Tragic Hero

Introduction

Shakespeare is a well-known author who wrote in 1500. Many of his plays are considered tragedies. A tragedy can be described as either a grave disaster or a sad event according to the Oxford dictionary ofcurrent English.

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Tragedie is a story in Shakespeare that ends unhappy because of the death of the protagonist. This is also known as the tragic hero. A tragedy must be the hero of a play in order for it to be atrocious. Romeo is the tragic hero in Romeo and Juliet. In the play Romeo and Juliet, tragedy plays an important role. It is clear that Romeo and Juliet are tragic because of their tragic flaws.

Certain qualities are required to be a tragichero. The noble birth of a character is one of these qualities. This quality is shown in the play Romeo and Juliet, where Romeo is the tragic hero. Romeo is a Montague and the Montagues in Verona are a well-known and respected family. The Montagues are noble born. Benvolio says in Act 1, Scene 1, Line 140: "My noble uncle." Benvoliois speaking of Lord Montague who is the father to Romeo. Montagues are also a wealthy family which is why they have respect for Romeo.

"Verona boasts about him a bears them like a partially gentleman." This statement was made by Lord Capulet in Act 1, Scene 5 Lines 65-66. This is a great example of how even Romeo's enemies know him well and are proud to be talked about by the citizens of Verona. The audience knows that if a character is presented as being noble, it is likely that he will have a tragic end.

A tragic hero must also possess a tragedy flaw. In Romeo's instance, this is falling in love too fast and too deeply. "To search for a tragic flaw either in Romeo or Juliet, is foolish and futile." Goddard comments that a tragic hero must have a tragic flaw. Another critic stated that Romeo has a tragic flaw in his character. It is his youthful impetuosity. A more mature or more thoughtful man would have been able to forgo the quarrel, and not rush to kill Juliet as soon as he thought that he was dead. Romeo and Juliet's tragic fall is that he falls too quickly and too deeply in love, which leads to his untimely end. The play opens with Romeo falling in love with Rosaline. Rosaline is not the same way about Romeo. Romeo becomes unhappy when Benvolio tells him: "Nothaving what makes you short. This is how Romeo fell in love with Rosaline. The audience sees that Romeo has fallen for Juliet in the next scene. "For Ine’er saw true beauty until this night." -Said Romeo in Act 1, Scene 5 Line 52. The audience quickly recognizes Romeo's fault of falling for another too quickly and deeply. He forgets his feelings about Rosaline and focuses on Juliet. Juliet also realizes Romeo's passion for her was too quick when she says: "It's too rash. too undvis'd. too sudden." A tragic flaw could indicate the end of the tragichero.

Rome, the tragic hero of the play, makes a series poor decisions. Going to the Capulet party was the first decision made by many. "Direct my sail!" "Ohlusty gentlemen!" Romeo says in Act 1, Scene 4, Line 113. Romeo would have never met Juliet if he hadn't gone to the party. Romeo did not have to stop Mercutio and Tybalt fighting. Romeo should not have tried to stop thefight. Mercutio wouldn't have been killed and the fight between Romeo and Tybalt would have never happened. Romeo, Act 3, Scene 1, Line94: "Courage man, the hurt cannot be great." when he attempts to stop Tybalt's fight with Mercutio. Romeo makes a wrong decision when he chooses to fight Tybalt for Mercutio's death. Romeo must choose between Tybalt and himself. This quote is about Romeo's challenge for Tybalt. Romeo would have been exiled from Verona if he had not fought Tybalt. Romeo also made poor decisions, including his decision to commit suicide, which was his final decision. Romeo said the following in Act 5, Scene 3, Line 120 just before he died: "O true apothecary. thy drugs aquick, thus with one kiss I die." Romeo would not have died if he had refused to take the poison. Romeo, the tragic hero, was forced to end his life by all these choices.

The pain of the tragic hero extends far beyond his own suffering. The actions of Romeo Mercutio, Tybalt and Mercutio caused their deaths. "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. Romeo remarks that Mercutio's soul "is but a small way above our heads" after Mercutio's passing. Romeo's poor actions also contributed to Tybalt's passing. Lady Montague succumbs to heart disease after Romeo's passing.

In Act 5, Scene 3, Line 209, Lord Montague tells the Prince: "Alas, my leige, mawife is dead tonight." Romeo makes Juliet commit suicide.

She has a dispute with her father and drinks the potion. Later, she stabs herself in self-defense, all in love for Romeo. All the fighting between the Capulets, the Montagues and Romeo disrupts Verona's peace. Verona is still not peaceful. Both Romeo and Juliet's families are devastated by the loss of their children. Everyone is unhappy. Romeo brought suffering on people, rather than himself. This makes Romeo and Juliet tragic.

Conclusion

Romeo is the tragichero in Romeo and Juliet. The audience can see Romeo's noble background, his tragicflaw, a series of poor choices he made, and how he brought suffering upon others. Many plays, stories and novels contain a moral.

Romeo and Juliet's lesson is to not rush into decisions like love, hate, and important ones. Every decision should be considered carefully. All the evidence in this paragraph and theparagraphs above suggests that Romeo & Juliet can be considered a tragedy.

Work Cited

Bloom, Nasold. Modern critical views. William shakespeare the Tragedies.1985

Rackin, Phillis. Shakespeare's Tragedies. 1978

Brodley, A.C. Shakespearian Tragedy. 1986

Oxford school Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet. 1982