Main Characters In Medea And Hippolytus example essay topic

According to Aristotle, a tragic figure is a human yet better; having a misapprehension in circumspection which causes a decline from a pinnacle; and claiming victory by realizing their mistakes. The main characters in Medea and Hippolytus, both Greek tragedies written by Euripides; Oedipus, a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles; and Desire Under the Elms, a twentieth century tragedy written by Eugene O Neil are all great examples of tragic figures. Each character, Medea, Hippolytus, Oedipus, and Abbie exemplifies the definition of a tragic figure in his or her own way. However, all four characters possesses a strength which makes them better than the average person; each character has a personal flaw or misstep that leads to their downfall; and Oedipus and Abbie claim final victory where as Medea and Hippolytus do not. The Strength of Medea, Hippolytus, Oedipus, and Abbie are exhibited in numerous ways. One of the strengths that all of the characters share is determination.

The characters share this quality because, Medea was determined to get revenge on Jason; Hippolytus was determined to let his father know the truth; Oedipus was determined to find the killer of Lauis; and Abbie was determined to own the farm. Medea's and Abbie's determination for selfish reasons. Medea proclaims, If I can find the means or devise any scheme to pay my husband for what he has done to me... This quote shows how resolved Medea is to repay Jason. Abbie's ascertainment is used to mostly to get material entities, Abbie states how she only married Cabot for a home in the following, Waal-what if I did need a hum What else d I marry a old man like him fur This reference shows how determined she was to marry just for material things Now, in the case of Hippolytus and Oedipus, their determination was for the good of the family or country.

In the tragedy Hippolytus, Hippolytus pronounces to his father, Nor am I, father, one that mocks his fellows, but loyal in their absence as their sight; and above all, untouched by that one sin of which you would convict me. To this day my flesh is virgin. Hippolytus is telling his father, Theseus, the truth and does so throughout the play. Similarly Oedipus determination is for the good of the country. Oedipus country is under a plague and he enumerates, I fight in his defense as for my father, and I shall try all means to take the murderer of Lauis the son of Labdacus the son of Polydor us and before him of Cadmus and before him of Agen or. Those who do not obey me, may the gods grant no crops springing from the ground they plow nor children to their women!

Here, Oedipus is showing his persistence to finding the murderer Lauis. These strengths may seem worthy of recognition, but it is these strengths that lead to their downfall. The act of leaving their native home takes a toll on Medea and Oedipus. But for Abbie it was her love for Eben; and Hippolytus pride caused him to fall hard. After leaving her home, Colchis, to marry Jason, she regrets her actions. Medea declares, Oh, my father!

Oh, my country! In what dishonor I left you, killing my own brother for it, In saying this Medea shows her agony for leaving Colchis and marring the cowardly Jason. In Comparison Oedipus left his home in order to avoid his fate. Oedipus fled his town because of this, I was fated to lie with my mother, and show to daylight an accursed breed which men would not endure, and I was doomed to be murderer of the father who begot me. When I heard this I fled, and in the days that followed I would measure from the stars the whereabouts of Corinth-yes, I fled to somewhere where I should not see fulfilled the infamies told in dreadful oracle. On the other hand Abbie's misstep was falling in love with Eben.

This is her blunder because Eben is her stepson and she tells him, Don t git feelin low. I love ye, Eben. Kiss me. Now, as for Hippolytus, his superciliousness causes him to repudiate Phaedra, thus, causing her to kill herself. Hippolytus divulges, Curse you! No never can I utter all my loathing of women!

Hippolytus is letting his pride come out and is speaking out of disgust in this quote. These missteps may have seemed like a good idea at the time but they all lead the characters into calamity. All of the characters eventually decline from their social status. Hippolytus, Oedipus, and Medea were all exiled from their countries, Abbie's downfall can be compared with the other, but instead of ostracism from her country; she is sent jail.

Hippolytus is exiled because Theseus, his father, believes he slept with his wife, Phaedra. Theseus declares to Hippolytus, Yet not you shall die! -Not by the penalty thus self-invoked (For speedy death is kindest for the wretched); But as a beggared outcast from your home. Oedipus is banished from his land for the murder of Lauis and to relieve the country of the plague. Oedipus cries, Drive me from here with all the speed you can to where I may not hear a human voice. Oedipus lamenting is due to the fact he is the cause of the plague and the murderer of Lauis, whom he promised to rid the city of. of course, Creon, being daunted for the lives of himself and his daughter, he exiles Medea.

Creon expounds, Medea, I order you along with your two children, and not to waste time doing it. As for Abbie, she is not exiled but she is sentenced to jail for the murder of her son. When a tragic figure recognizes his or her wrong doings they assert personal triumph. Not all tragic figures claim this victory, Medea and Hippolytus are perfect examples. Hippolytus never realized that it was his anger that sent Phaedra over the edge. As for Medea, she murders a great number of people including her immaculate sons.

Medea ruminated about desecrating Jason so much, she really didn t have a conscious. On the opposition, Oedipus and Abbie are true tragic figures. They both realize what they have done wrong and is willing to face the consequences. Abbie realizes she has committed the worst crime and sin; she asks for forgiveness and accepts her punishment.

I ve got t take my punishment-t pay fur my sin... she proclaims before getting in the sheriff's car. Oedipus, like Abbie, also realizes his crime and utters, But the hand that struck me was none but my own. Oedipus says this because he notices that it was his own doings that brought him this pain and disharmony. All of the tragic figures ventilated had similarities and yet diverged in countless ways. Each character possesses a strength, but the strength is used in different ways; each has a flaw, and each flaw and fall deviates; and two out of the four recognize their wrong, which lets them claim victory that is not same. Tragic figures can be very complex yet simplistic once studied.

In today's society the actions of Medea, Hippolytus, Oedipus, and Abbie would be justified by a psychiatrist as a lack of attention or love.