Posted: January 23, 2000 at 18:42:47: by Magnus
: : : 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)So what is Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero? : 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". What you say reminds me of "Paradise Lost" by John Milton; Satan is charcterized as the "hero" of the story, the brave angel rebelling against a despotic all-powerful God. But still, I do not see Melkor as really tragic; despite all of the gifts given to him in the beginning, he *chooses* evil, he *chooses* to disrupt the beauty of creation. Of course, as with Satan, the reason for his rebellion is perhaps indeed *because* he is the greatest being under God/Illuvatar; they both thought, in their arrogance, themselves powerful enough to overthrow their maker. But as I said, I don't see Melkor as really tragic, because, unlike for example Turin, Melkor chose to do evil.
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