Nora, the Aristotelian Tragic Hero - 800 Words

Dan Tamulonis Mrs. Munn English 11H 28 November 2011 Nora, the Aristotelian Tragic Hero Along with many great theories, Aristotle left the world with his own set of guidelines to defining the tragic hero. Many protagonists have been put through his test and been placed as tragic heroes or just heroes, but where they truly belong is up for debate. In A Doll’s House, by Henrik Ibsen, many characters could be put through the rigors of an examination based on Aristotle’s qualifications. According to Aristotle, Nora Helmer, the play’s protagonist, is a tragic hero, because her character traits are perfect examples of what contributes to a tragic hero. As defined by Aristotle, a tragic hero must be of noble stature and radiate greatness.†¦show more content†¦Linde then brags about how successful her life has been so far and then distances their lives by stating that she has three children, when earlier it was revealed that Mrs. Linde has none. This rudeness is a major flaw in Nora’s make up as a character . Her vainness is definitely her tragic flaw because it eventually leads to Krogstad blackmailing her, which becomes worse when Torvald finds out. She wants to go to Italy so she takes out a loan from Krogstad without thinking about the consequences. Her incapability to look at the picture leads to unpleasant events in the future. According to Aristotle, the tragic hero must suffer misfortune due to their tragic flaw. Nora is does not differ from this aspect. Instead, she is insulted to the highest degree by Torvald. When he hears about the actions Nora has taken behind his back he is furious. Not just because it was done behind his back, but because it looks bad in the view of public. In Torvalds’ eyes, this is the worst that could happen. As a result, he tries to make her feel isolated, â€Å"But I shall not allow you to bring up the children; I dare not / trust them to you† (III, 72). The degree of misfortune that falls upon Nora is almost unimaginable. To threaten a wife with the separation from her kids is something that should never be done. Nothing calls for this harsh of a punishment. Nora does not deserve this, but it teaches her that this is not the life for her. It brings about anShow MoreRelatedA Dolls House As A Tragic Hero Analysis967 Words   |  4 PagesA tragic hero is defined as a person â€Å"who has achieved, or who has the ability to achieve greatness but who through a weakness, or tragic flaw in his character, falls into the depths of misery and often to his death† (Ingham 1). Within Oedipus Rex, Sophocles laid the foundation for what is now considered the ideal tragic hero. Within A Doll’s House, Ibsen creates a modern hero in Nora Helmer; a woman who was oppressed for going against social rules for saving her husband. Nora follows the AristotelianRead MoreHenrik Ibsen s A Doll s House899 Words   |  4 Pagesgave birth to modernism in theatre, Norwegian playwright and theatre director Henrik Ibsen pushed bo undaries with his plays that analyzed and criticized societal norms and values. A Doll’s House provides one such example, where the play’s protagonist Nora leaves her husband in the final scene to undertake a spiritual journey of self-discovery. An alternative ending was made for this play posthumously as a result of the controversy it caused at the time. Written towards the latter half of Ibsen’s career