King Lear and Dr. Faustus as Tragic Heroes Character Analysis

Read Summary
Summary

In Aristotle’s view, a tragic hero experiences a reversal of fortune due to his own error or weakness rather than vice. Faustus and King Lear both exhibit excessive pride or arrogance, leading to their downfall. Faustus turns to the black arts, makes a deal with Satan, and engages in trivial actions instead of using his newfound powers. Lear demands constant attention and goes mad when his daughters fail to give him what he wants. Faustus behaves more admirably, refusing to renege on his contract with Satan, while Lear behaves like a foolish old man. Both characters illustrate the proverb Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).

Table of Content

            Aristotle defines a tragic hero or tragic character as someone who experiences a “change of fortune . . . from good to bad. It should come about not as the result of vice, but of some great error or frailty . . .” (Aristotle).  Both Faustus and King Lear suffer from excessive pride or arrogance.

In Marlowe’s The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus Dr. Faustus is a learned man. He has learned all that conventional scholarship can teach him and still wants to learn more. He turns to the black arts and learns to call up the spirits of hell. Faustus makes a deal with Satan that he will give up his soul after twenty-four years provided that Satan will grant him the use Mephistopheles so that he might live “in all voluptuousness” (Marlowe, I. iii). His pride exhibits itself in the cavalier manner in which he agrees to the contract with Satan. Instead of putting the power of Mephistopheles to use, he engages in trivial practical jokes.  It is as if he fears nothing, not even death because he has been able to conquer whatever he has attempted throughout his life. .

This essay could be plagiarized. Get your custom essay
“Dirty Pretty Things” Acts of Desperation: The State of Being Desperate
128 writers

ready to help you now

Get original paper

Without paying upfront

In Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of King Lear arrogance rears its ugly when shortly after King Lear gives his kingdom to his three daughters. We learn early on that Lear’s pride is all show and that he must have his ego stroked constantly.  He must be the revered center of attention or he is unhappy. When his daughters fail to give him the kind of treatment his arrogance demands, he feels so frustrated and impotent that he goes mad (Shakespeare).

A great difference exists between the two characters in how they handle the situation they have created for themselves. Faustus, once his pride has gotten him in trouble, behaves admirably. Throughout the play he refuses opportunities to renege on his contract with Satan. At the end though he pushes his pride aside and begs for mercy when it is too late. Lear behaves less honorably. Throughout the play Lear rails against those people who are not treating him as his pride demands. He behaves more like a child or a foolish old man that like a king. In both plays the tragic characters illustrate the adage “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” Proverbs 16:18.

Works Cited

Aristotle. The Poetics. 2007. The Literature Network. 19 Mar. 2007 ;http://www.online-literature.com/view.php/poetics/13;.
Marlowe, Christopher. The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus. 2007. The Literature Network. 19 Mar. 2007 ;http://www.online-literature.com/marlowe/dr-faustus-1604/;.
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of King Lear. 2007. The Literature Network. 19 Mar. 2007 ;http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/kinglear/2/;.
King James Bible. N.d. 19 March 2007 ;http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/k/kjv;.

Cite this page

King Lear and Dr. Faustus as Tragic Heroes Character Analysis. (2016, Dec 08). Retrieved from

https://graduateway.com/king-lear-and-dr-faustus-as-tragic-heroes/

Remember! This essay was written by a student

You can get a custom paper by one of our expert writers

Order custom paper Without paying upfront