Is Romeo a Tragic Hero? Playwright Shakespeare is known for his world famous tragedies. The most recognized tragedy is the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. A play of love between two eternal enemies which ends in bloodshed and death. Many people argue whether Romeo was a tragic hero. An epic hero has the six characteristics which Aristotle described in his book Poetics. Romeo fits this model accurately . Romeo is a tragic hero because he was a character of noble standing and greatness, his downfall was his own, and although he is great he contains his own flaws. For a character to be considered as a tragic hero they must be of high social status and greatness. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet begins with the chorus reading the prologue for the entire play, and the chorus reads , “Two Households alike in dignity”. The definition of dignity is “the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect”. During Elizabethan age people only respected and admired those above them, and most everyone was a peasant anyone above them were either nobles or of high social rank. The two households mentioned are the Capulet and Montague. Lord Capulet talks to Lord Montague after their children’s death, and exclaims “ Oh brother Montague”. The capitalizations of the name tells us he is referring to the head of the household or The Lord; Lord are of high position, influence, and wealth. Romeo is a Montague, and the only son and heir to Lord Montague. Many argue that Shakespeare did not explicitly mention Romeo's social rank; the fact that Romeo’s father is a lord and his household is one of dignity, Romeo’s high status cannot be denied . Romeo is a great man but that does not mean he is perfect. Aristotle states “Though the tragic hero is pre-eminently great he/she is not perfect” (Allinsby). Shakespeare does a great job of exposing Romeo’s vulnerabilities and flaws. Romeo’s flaw is his impulsiveness and rash decisions. Romeo sees Juliet at the party and says, “Did my heart ever love anyone before this moment?” The quote illustrates Romeo impulsiveness because early that day he was lovesick over Rosaline, and now he does not believe he has loved. Romeo’s love for Juliet is rash because it is made at a moment's notice; He decides to make a life altering statement before he has even talked to Juliet. While I agree that Juliet holds Romeo to a extremely high status she does not believe he is perfect. Juliet is on the balcony and she speaks, “It is too rash, too undvis'd, too sudden”. Juliet is referring to Romeo's love , and she admits it impulsive and rash . Juliet, Romeo's lover even admits he has a flaw. All of Shakespeare’s Tragedies characters have a flaw, and if one does not see Romeo’s flaw then they have not truly read The Tragedy Of Romeo and Juliet . Lastly, the hero's downfall is partially her/his fault sut to his hamartia or “fatal flaw”(Allinsby). Romeo was a good character who had a great harmitia; his irrational love for Juliet. Romeo is man of emotion when it comes to Juliet and anything related to her. Tybalt comes and confront Romeo, Mercutio, and Benvolio. Tybalt calls Romeo vile names, so Mercutio challenges Tybalt; Romeo says, “Gentle Mercutio put thy rapier up”. Instead of trying to calm Tybalt or walk Mercutio out he tells him to put his rapier. The fight is Romeo’s not Mercutio’s , but because of Juliet he does not handle the situation logically but emotionally. Romeo leads to his downfall because he is banished for killing Tybalt to avenge Mercutio. Romeo servant tells him the news of Juliet's death and he goes to the apothecary and says “Come, cordial and not poison, go with me to Juliet’s grave, for there must I use thee.” His love for Juliet is so strong that he refers to the poison as medicine. He wants to got to Juliet's deathbed and he goes and visit the gravesite without consulting Friar Lawrence. He kills himself in vain, because Juliet had not truly died, and he would have know this if he had not made such an impulsive decision of killing himself. Yes, many parties could bear fault for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet but Romeo’s death was caused because of the rash decisions he made based on his love of Juliet . The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, will alway be one of the greatest love stories ever told. The character Romeo embodies the being of a tragic hero throughout the novel; Romeo is of noble birth, he has flaws, and his downfall was his own. Romeo is an easy character to connect with because although he is elevated in society he is not perfect. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet rouses the unpleasant emotions we often try restrain, and leaves in a state of wonder. Romeo teaches us that rushing life is not the way to go and that is something we can all take to heart. Romeo is the tragic hero and will be the model of all tragic heroes after him
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