Posted: January 23, 2000 at 16:50:46: by Jeuda the Dwarf
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: : I think that a tragic hero that people almost always forget about is Melkor himself. He is not abvious at first glance and yet he conforms to the basic definition of a tragic hero, as described by the Greeks (Aristotle): : He has all the opportunity and gifts to be a hero or one of "the good guys" if you like but because of a tragic flaw, that is arrogance and supreme jealosy for Illuvitar he turns his ways to evil. We, as the audience, feel sorrow and fear for a being so mighty and powerful as him to be so utterly turned to evil. : : Although he is not killed, as such we do see his fall and banishment from Arda. : Don't forget, in the Silm its stated that even before the Music, Melkor was rejected by Varda. This, for the mightiest and most promising of the young Ainur, may have been devastating. Especially when she took up with Manwe. Could this be the tragic cause of his rebellious and anti-social behaviour? : Heorrenda IMO, Melkor is actually a bit of what I see as a "good guy" - he tried to escape the all-embracing "godly plan". Remember how he tried to find the Imperishable Flame, only so he can "bring into Being things of his own". and yet, everything he does, is already a thing which is in the "Music".
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