Creative Essays Examples

Protagonists are regarded as extraordinary people. They share certain characteristics and aim at a particular goal. Oedipus is the main character in Oedipus the king. His downfall comes through his pursuit of knowledge. He is seen as a classic hero through his fatal flaw. His endless determination can be referred to his tragic flaw. Hamlet is the main character in the play. All the actions in the play focus on him. Winston is the main character identified by the readers. He is innocent but surrounded by people of bad character. This paper seeks to establish the goals of three different protagonists in search of truth, their similarities and differences and what they seek in life.
One character trait which makes protagonists admirable is their determination to achieve some goal. Oedipus is determined to free his kingdom from plague even when all evidence points at his actions as the cause of the plague. His search for the killer of king Laius marks the beginning of his fall. The pursuit of his goal makes him to forsake his home and blind himself. On the other hand, Hamlet’s goal is to avenge his father’s death. He adapts to the players act so as to find a solution on how to end his task. Hamlet was determined to kill someone. He was driven by revenge and was determined to carry out the actions by himself. Winston as the third protagonist aims at tasting the limits of power.
There are many character traits shared between the three protagonists. For example Oedipus and Hamlet share the nobility status. Oedipus is made king after solving a riddle which saves the people of Thebes from paying tax. He gains respect and love in Thebes. Hamlet is born a prince hence his status has no comparison to that of Oedipus in terms of respect. However nobility is one of the main similarities between the two tragedies. Winston is not of the noble status but rather a popular figure. All the three protagonists are led to their downfall through their tragic flaws. They all fall after they discover the truth. The moment of self-actualization marks the beginning of their downfall. The three protagonists experience a moment of truth. Another similarity is whereby activities of all the three tragedies revolve around the lives of their parents. Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother. Hamlet also commits incest by getting involved with his mother. The difference between the two is that Hamlet is aware of his actions while Oedipus is not aware of his crimes. On the other hand, Hamlet is set to avenge his father’s death.
The three protagonists want the truth. They are all determined to pursue the truth. This determination is what leads to their fatal downfall. Winston’s desire to fight his party makes him a tragic hero who dies without achieving what he wants in life. He wishes to speak the truth and also participate in the revolution. His desires in life make him vulnerable. Oedipus wants to know the killer of king Laius.
In conclusion, the three protagonists are all tragic heroes who encounter their downfall through self-actualization. Oedipus and Hamlet perfectly fit into the Aristotelian notion of a tragic hero. They are both of the noble status. On the other hand, Winston fits well in the modern definition of a tragic hero.