In Milton’s paradise lost Essay

Aristotles tragic champ has certain exampleistics which rear be applied to Oedipus the King and Miltons daimon. Aristotle states that a tragic hero place be classified as a soulfulness that water advert from the state of being happy to one of misery because of his avouch mistake. This send word be seen in both Oedipus and match, since they are miserable as a result of their own doing. According to Aristotle, the tragic hero must fall(a) through his or her own error, or hamartia. This term is also taken as tragic flaw, usually applied to overwhelming arrogance, or hubris, which causes fatal error. heller and Oedipus show that they remove hubris and this is probably one of the of import contributing factors for their fall. Although, the main characteristic of the tragic hero, as stated by Aristotle, is their ability to make the ratifier or audience to empathize with them, he wants there to be a sense of fear and mistrust because of their circuitous nature. In Miltons P aradise Lost, Satan, one of the main characters in the story, exhibits all the qualities of a tragic hero. He has fallen, literally and figuratively, from grace. Once one of divinitys more powerful angels in nirvana, Satan questions theologys power and forms an alliance to overthrow Him.Satans army fights diligently only to have God cast him discover from Heaven, With all his innkeeper of rebel angels (Paradise Lost, phonograph record1, field 37). Book One of Paradise Lost describes Satan being cast out of Heaven and knock down to Hell. This is consistent with Aristotles criteria for the tragic hero, suffering a change in fortune from happiness to misery because of a mistaken act Satan also possesses hubris fleece or overwhelming self-confidence. Here we may govern secure, and in my pickax To reign is to worth ambition, though in Hell Better to reign in Hell than avail in Heaven. ( pass 261)Here, Satan has so a great deal pride that he would rather rule in Hell th an serve God in Heaven. This shows that Satan possesses hubris, which is, as described by Aristotle, pride or overwhelming self-confidence. Satans character as a tragic hero emerges further in later books. Book Four of Paradise Lost is a good example. It begins with Satans only soliloquy of the epic. As he awakes in Hell, he stares up at the sun and begins to speak Oh Sun to tell thee how I hatred thy beams, That bring to my remembrance from what state I fell, how glorious at a time higher up thy sphere Till pride and worse ambition threw me down (Book IV, line 37-40)As he sees the sun, he remembers how high he was in heaven until his pride and ambition brought him down. This is a very important quote as it satisfies the criteria for Aristotles description of a tragic hero. It highlights the character suffering a change in fortune because of a mistaken act Also, hubris is once again revea take as Satan states that his pride and ambition threw him down. This example is pull dow n more profound because it comes directly from the character. Milton is also successful in depiction this super-human character as one with humanistic qualities.This allows the reader to relate to the character, which satisfies so far some other criteria for Aristotles tragic hero, we recognize equal possibilities of error in our less and fallible selves. Satans human qualities are exaggerated in his soliloquy as he even contemplates begging for forgiveness. Is there no place left for repentance, none for pardon left? (Book IV, Line 79-80) As Satan contemplates repentance, he decides against it, as he is afraid of the ravish that he might draw from his followers, My dread of shame Among the Spirits beneath,Whom I seduced with other promises Boasting I could subdue The Omnipotent.(Line 83-86) Since he has boasted that he can defeat God, Satan now shows fear and doubt as he realises that he really cannot fulfill his promises. Milton reveals a different lieu to Satan. He depi cts a character that shows remorse and shame, and, someone who fears disgrace. The common person can identify with these human characteristics this allows the reader to evoke some bill of sympathy for Satan as they now see him in a helpless situation fighting a losing battle for fear of disgracing his followers.This emphasizes Aristotles description of recognising similar possibilities of error in our less and fallible selves. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus is the tragic hero and fits Aristotles description almost exactly. Aristotle states that a character should reveal goodness in terms of moral judgment and choices that he makes. Oedipus has compassion for his subjects and seeks the truth to end their suffering, and, continuously strives to be a saver to the people. When the priests of Thebes approach Oedipus, who is pleading on the behalf of his people who are suffering from shortfall and death, he agrees.He says that he testament do what he can to solve the situation, bring e verything to light. Although Oedipus does have some admirable qualities, being the tragic hero, he too possesses hubris. Oedipuss tragic flaw is that he is stubborn, impulsive, and pretentious. When Oedipus does a self evaluation his talents, beauty, and his own achievements blind him. These traits are similar to Satan who also has hubris, a flaw that leads to his defeat. Another reason for Oedipus feral demise is his lack of judgment and impulsive actions.These attributes are humanistic qualities that the reader can relate to, yet still question. When he leaves Corinth, he meets an suite on the steering to Thebes. There, the leader of the horse-drawn carriage orders him out of the way. Oedipus impulsiveness drives him to shoot everyone in the entourage this leads to him being crowned King, where he finally suffers. It can be argued that both Oedipus and Satan are tragic heroes concord to Aristotles definition. However, a question arises were Oedipus and Satan acting on their o wn free will or were they destined to do so.According to Christian theology, it is said that God foresees everything that will happen in life. This leads many to formulate that Satan suffers, not because he chooses to, but because he is chosen to. This is another reason why the reader can empathize with Satan because God knows of his betrayal. The same can be said for Oedipus, who has no free will it is under the control of the Gods. When he is born, Apollos illusionist predicts that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother. This foretelling leads Oedipus parents to abandon him on the mountain-side and leave him to die.However, wad intervenes and Oedipus soon finds himself adopted by the King and Queen of Corinth. When he finds out that the King and Queen are not his natural parents, Oedipus leaves Corinth, solves the Sphinxs riddle, and becomes the permutation of King Laius as the King of Thebes. When the gods could no longer brok in still the affront of Oedipuss unwi tting sins, they punish the city by direct plague and famine upon the city. When approached by the priests, Oedipus could only promise them his help, which starts the chain of events, last leading him to discover his sins and his subsequent downfall.When Oedipus solves the riddle of the Sphinx, he could not have known that he would end up marrying his own mother. When Oedipus meets King Laius, he is unaware as to who killed his father. Eventually, he sets out to find the truth, as the oracle prophesizes. He does the best he could as a ruler, son and hubby but is still played out in the end. Therefore, Oedipus is seen as a tragic hero and is comparable to Satan who also has no freewill. The point or God knew that the actions were going to occur and had the power to stop it. Satan and Oedipus are tragic heroes according to Aristotle.They have characteristics that make them suite their exercise as a tragic hero. Aristotle said that tragic heroes should suffer a fall of fortune thr ough a mistake of their own. Both Satan and Oedipus suffer this fate. Aristotle also states that a tragic hero will is led by hamartia which is hubris. Till pride and worse ambition threw me down (Milton) this line was spoken by Satan who openly admits that he is noble-minded and ambitious. Twit me with that wherein my greatness lies Milton, John. Paradise Lost Sophocles. Oedipus The King http//www. planetpapers. com/Assets/3330. php.