Re: Helen of Troy
Is Helen a victim? Maybe...
Is she a tragic hero? Ehh...let's examine the possiblity:
Elements of a Tragic Hero
1) Main Character - Helen is not a main character. The true main characters of the tale are Achilles, Agamemnon, and Hector.
2) Noble Stature - While Helen does have a high social standing, she really has no power. She was only the excuse for Agamemnon to go to war with Troy.
3) Tragic Flaw - What is it? Adultry? Maybe that's she's self-centered because she does believe the war is actually about her?
4) Free Will - This trait she does possess because she leaves Menalaus.
5) Tragic Ending - She does get what she deserves by being taken back to Sparta, although few true tragic heroes actually live at the end.
6) Increased Awareness - It is important that the tragic hero come to some sort of understanding of what went wrong before the end of story. I guess this one really depends on whether you believe Helen comprehends that the war is political.
This is an interesting topic for debate.
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AGD
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