Tragic Hero By: William Braxton Brophy, Michael Joseph Sanguigni II, Dalton William Turner.

Theme Tragic hero – a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat. * Virtuous – having or showing high moral standards. Romeo and Juliet – Romeo is considered the tragic hero in this play because of his actions toward Juliet. His strong emotion towards her preceded his death. Star Wars – Darth Vader is the tragic hero because of his role as the leader of the “Dark Side”. By the end of the movie he fights his son to the death. Before Vader’s death he realizes that he has made a mistake and tries to overcome his downfall.

Thesis Statement In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein, a great virtuous character, was destined for downfall, suffering, and defeat often through faults of his own is considered a tragic hero.

Topic One Victor creating the monster caused misery to him and those around him, his intentions where virtuous and noble to the cause of study, but it was his destiny to be condemned to guilt and tragedy.

Quote “I remained two days at Lausanne in this painful State of mind” (Shelley 61). This quote describes Victor as a tragic hero as well as foreshadows what he will end up attempting afterwards. By him saying he is in a painful state of mind, he has no idea as he will soon learn that his creature has killed William. This thought drives him to later contemplate suicide. So when he says this quote, he sadly has no idea what he has in store for him.

Quote “I also record those events which led, by insensible steps, to my after tale of misery…” (Shelley 24). This quote is from the foreshadowing portion of victors tale when he is describing his ballad to Robert Walton. By using the word misery, this tells the reader that no good is going to come for Victor, as well as showing that he is recording the events of misery that no auspicion will become of him, proving he is a tragic hero.

Topic two Victors moms ominous death foreshadowing victors tragic demise.

Quote “But before the day resolved upon could arrive, the first misfortune of my life occurred – an omen, as it were, of my future misery” (Shelley 28). Victors mother dies and Victor fears that this wasn’t the end of something, but the beginning of his “future misery”.

Quote “…and Hen with what ecstasy shall I join my Elizabeth and my departed friends…” (Shelley 195). Everyone Victor loved was gone, done in by hands of his creation everything he wanted to accomplish was dead to him and he no longer cared for his life as saying that he will join his wife and friends, that he will die, a tragic hero’s death.

Topic three The monster to us, is Victor himself. No matter what the monster does to help himself or others around him, the monster continues to due to his creators abandonment.

Quote Shelley’s reference of Coleridge’s “Ancient Mariner”: “like one who, on a lonely road, Doth walk in fear and dread, And, having once turned round, walks on. And turns no more his head; Because he knows a frightful fiend Doth close behind him tread” (Shelley 45). This perfectly describes how clearly Victor is a tragic hero, by knowing this quote and applying it to his life and story to Robert Walton.

Quote “I became the same happy creature who, a few years ago, loved and beloved by all, had no sorrow or case”(Shelley 57). Victor had not seen his family in a very long time, this quote shows how Victor is a perfect tragic hero.