Characters in Mayor of Casterbridge and Frankenstein Essay

I am going to use Aristotles definition of a sad gun in order to ascertain whether the briny counterbalancets in Mayor of parting of Michael Henc dense as a tragicalal sensation as he adopts blackened mars which result in an eventual d bearfall. He consequently recognises his faults and cheers favor from the reader. This novel was showtime Casterbridge and Frankenstein can be gulled as tragic heroes. intrepid presents the produce on the 2nd January 1886. To date, his fictional pen had received mixed reviews merely this fussy novel was well received by his contemporaries and critics alike and given high gear marks. In Hardys narrative it states, Others thought better of it than he did himself. bloody shame Shelleys fictional novel, Frankenstein was archetypical publish in 1818. In this novel I bemuse focused master Frankenstein, the important source, and have studied him thoroughly by dint ofout the events in the novel. There is an ongoing and disputable debate as to who actually is the tragic hero of the novel as two(prenominal)(prenominal) professional Frankenstein and the dickens some(prenominal)(prenominal) qualify. In this essay, I pull up stakes discuss this view and indicate who I believe to be the tragic hero.The first grammatical constituent I will construction at is Harmartia which is Greek, message inglorious or tragic flaw of judgement. In the novel, Henchard makes some(prenominal) fatal flaws which, in turn, causes the occurrence of new(prenominal) tragic events. I will concentrate on his first flaw which we come across mature at the commencement of the novel. Henchard actually sells his get married wo human beings and infant miss at a furmity tent while he is in a totally bibulous state despite universe disapproved of alcohol consumption by his married woman. His flaws in macrocosm disobedient and inconsiderate are altogether diaphanous when he shouts, Will anybody get her? This not only humiliat es Susan, his wife, but to a fault shows us a truly hot side to his character which is most emphatically flawed. According to Samuel Pyeatt Menefee, Contemporary critics who could not believe, apparently, that such transactions had ever occurred on incline soil in the nineteenth century. Hardy surprises the consultation as well as the critics with the use of this plot device and gives the audience something to look forward to later in the novel. The flaw of consuming alcohol itself is a tragic flaw as it leads him to ill-treatment and blame his wife during her presence and makes forceful decisions.Hardy as well describes Henchard as a women-hater which shows us that he has little watch for the opposite sex and thinks that they limit his opportunities of being successful. This is to a fault corresponds to what happened at the furmity tent with his wife and shows his position clearly towards women. From this we can hear that extreme offense is definitely unmatchable of h is flaws. In Mary Shelleys Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is considered to be a tragic hero as he fits in the plaster bandage of Aristotles definition of a tragic hero. Frankensteins tragic flaw is that he is everyplacepowered by his ambitions and aspirations which drives him to create the monster. This is highly obvious when he says, when I am intense with the enthusiasm of success, on that point will be n unitary to participate my joy. This shows how he is goaded by success and ambition and shows that his launching sum everything to him. Critique, Anne K Mellor states Frankenstein has clearly substituted his scientific research for normal emotional interactions in her thesis (Mary Shelley Her Life, Her Fictions, Her Monsters (1988).This not only supports the feature that Frankenstein has flaws but besides introduces the fresh intellection of ignorance in Frankenstein which could be a strength and hidden tragic flaw. He also attempts to play god and mess with the dis h of nature which results in something extremely ugly. This is explored through after creating the monster, Frankenstein is unable to face the burdens of his own scientific actions and rejects the monster. It is apparent that Frankenstein was only concern about the outer beauty and we render this when he says breathless horror and execration filled my heart. This expresses his emotions towards his own existence and highlights his hallucination of judgement which proves that Frankenstein himself had flaws. Peripeteia is a Greek element which involves a tragic ruin of character.As we have already established, Henchard has many flaws which start a chain of down falls for him in the novel. The first fall he experiences is when he loses Donald Farfrae as both a tutor and a friend. This impacts on Henchards task bullyly as Farfrae is a great asset to the business as a result of his rational decision- fashioning. Due to Henchards flaw of jealousy, he loses Farfrae in both of the se capacities. Henchard then proceeds to make very bad business decisions which result in bankruptcy and the eventual loss of the business. further as we believe that he has null left to lose, we are surprised when his secret is revealed in court by the furmity women. The secret, of merchandising his wife and daughter, is now revealed. This then personal effects Henchard further as he loses his house, his countersink as Mayor of Casterbridge and loses his reputation at heart the community. Eventually, we see Henchard depicted as a beggar during the Royals squall and is described as wearing latticelike and weather-beaten garments of bygone years.This exposition contrasts greatly with Hardys primarily description of Henchards clothing when he first becomes Mayor of Casterbridge. This contrast shows on the button how much of a downfall he has contacted. In comparison, Frankenstein also has downfalls which are caused by his own actions. Frankenstein suffers emotionally when h e loses his wife Elizabeth and his friend Clerval as the monster kills them both which in turn, kills his own happiness. He expresses his overrun misery and Agony of despair and this is an peculiarity that he is abject and the great trouble he feels. The word overflowing also implies that the grief he is trying to have on can no longer be contained and that his misery is reaching insurmountable levels in spite of appearance him. The phrase Agony of despair also gives the impression that his tolerance towards his own lugubriousness will be prolonged, permanent and everlasting.The trey element I will look at is Anagnorisis which is Greek for recognition of fatal flaw of character. In mayor of Casterbridge, Henchard falls from a high social stead to a low one but does become aware of his fatal flaws and wrong-doings to others. The first flaw he admits to is selling Susan in the furmity tent in front of a court of magistrates .This is apparent when he says in court Tis as true a s the light. This iterate shows how Henchard realises the erroneousness he do with Susan and surprises the reader with this truthful attitude. Here, we see him in a different light from the character we have witnessed and come to know. It also causes wateriness for the reader as to why he actually told the truth at this station when he knows that it can remain concealed. Similarly, the element of realising own tragic flaws is present in Frankenstein but instead Frankenstein realises when its besides late. After the oddment of several people, he realises that his own creation was a mistake and that he only deserves the same point as those the monster had killed. He describes himself as being Unfeeling, hardhearted creatorThis indicates that he sadnesss making the monster which contrasts with his attitude at the head start when he is set by excessive curiosity. Frankenstein also admits that he cannot play God through the quote Fright must it be, for supremely horrible wou ld be the effect of any human race endeavor to mock the stupendous weapon of the Creator of the world. The quote is his own acknowledgement that he, in his arrogance had mocked God, because the only consequence that can be had by acting God is frightful. It is true to say that Victor Frankenstein realises that his own creation was a mistake and that, as a consequence, he likewise deserves the same fate as those his monster has killed. He describes himself as being Unfeeling, heartless creator This indicates that he regrets making the monster which contrasts with his attitude at the beginning where he was wholly driven by excessive ambition and curiosity.However, Unlike Henchard, it is translucent that Victor has learned little from the suffering he has caused. This lack of self-awareness is indicated earlier his death when he speaks of Another who may succeed. This implies that he doesnt recognise his flaws completely. or headache by the character. Despite his bitter charact er portrayal, Hardy also tries to create an sinless side Catharsis is an element of the tragic hero which is evident in the character of Michael Henchard. This forth element is Greek and it means to inspire pity ewual cadence of philanthropy towards the character. We come across this when Henchard states, Here and all over are folk dying(p) before their time like frosted leaves, though wanted by the world, the country, and their own families, as badly as can be while I, an outcast and an encumbrance, wanted by nobody, I live on, and cant die if I try. Henchard feels like an outcast no one cares whether he lives or dies, and yet he lives on.He uses the simile of frosted leaves to describe people dying before their time, perhaps because people have as little control over their deaths as they do over the weather. Henchard in the first place inspires pity towards the end of the novel when he dies and leaves a will behind for his daughter and Farfrae. In this will he expresses hi s feelings of regret and starts to show that he thinks of others before himself. This is evident in the will when it states that no man remembers me. This particular line in the will is the last line of all of his other wishes that are completely selfless and expresses the hatred towards himself. This inspires pity in the reader as we feel a great amount of sympathy for Henchard when he wishes that no one would know and commemorate him regardless of his death.Henchards final will and testament sums up the dissatisfaction of his life. He doesnt want to be remembered or mourned he doesnt even want a grave marker. In Frankenstein, the character of victor Frankenstein doesnt simply create sympathy for himself as he is responsible for his own actions but there are other things that we might read with. Frankensteins character shows determination and works hard when trying to create the monster. This is evident when he states I failed yet lull I clung on to the hope. For obvious reason s, his hard work was not reflected which is apparent upon beholding the monster.We can somewhat relate to this as he worked so hard and worn-out(a) much time on his creation but the desired results were not shown at the end. This is where we might feel sympathy for him. Overall, in my opinion I believe that both characters adopt the necessary characteristics in bonny a tragic hero as they both fit in the form of Aristotles definition of a tragic hero. Both characters do have fatal flaws and make errors of judgement which cause them to suffer a downfall in society. The characters then recognise their flaws and realise the wrongs they have through with(p) and try to make amends. They also inspire pity or fear, but in these cases, I feel sympathy for both characters, particularly, Henchard as we see a drastic change in personality from the beginning to the end.