There are advantages to be considered when becoming a hero. According to Aristotle: “A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his downfall.” (Kaura, 2011) Based on the characteristics suggested by Aristotle, a tragic hero must be someone of noble status and portrays greatness. The noble characteristics should already be evident from the beginning of the work. With high status come the chivalric virtues innate in the character. In contrast to the outstanding grandeur of the tragic hero, he is not perfect. A hero’s downfall is partly due to his own fault, probably due to poor decision making. This cause of the fall is called hamartia, or the tragic failure that is often intertwined with the arrogance or arrogance and overconfidence of the hero. With regard to the hero’s downfall, the consequence often exceeds the severity of the misconduct. However, the public will not be hung up on all the misfortunes that the hero lived through. After some realizations, discoveries and regaining consciousness, the hero rises from his fall. (Defining the tragedy, 2005)

These characteristics are reflected in “Much ado about nothing” by Shakespeare, in the character of Claudio. In Act 1, Scene 1, Claudio’s name was spoken for the first time. He is considered a Florentine who won the war twice (idiomatically) because he won the war without any casualties. In the same Act and Scene, the Messenger regarded Claudius as a noble, which made him of high status. Knowing all this, we can say that it is considered great.

Claudio, just like anyone else who came to like someone, just a little more unique because it’s love at first sight. However, there was an unexpected turn of events. Don John wanted to interrupt everyone’s happiness, so he planned for Borachio to make love to Margaret (Hero’s maid) in Hero’s room, and asked Don Pedro and Claudio to watch. Claudio thought he was a hero with another person, which made him jealous that turned into hatred and anger.

Claudio humiliated Hero at all, as he accuses her of lewdness. A very hasty act of Claudio, he did things recklessly while still blinded by anger. This act of Claudio caused the Hero family to conspire over his death.

Finally, the truth came out. Claudio needs to suffer his mistakes and reckless acts. Claudio mourned Hero’s death for as long as she taught that she betrayed him.

As punishment, as indicated in the Final Act, Claudio was forced to marry Leonato’s niece, who is supposedly Hero’s cousin. To his surprise, the masked woman is actually Hero.

References:

http://vccslitonline.cc.va.us/tragedy/aristotle.htm (Definition of tragedy: Aristotelian tragic hero analysis guide)

http://surabhikaura.hubpages.com/hub/Aristotle-Tragic-Hero-Hamlet-Macbeth

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