I recently watched the movie "Braveheart", and while I was watching I started thinking how it would be another good example of a tragedy. I know it's not something we officially looked at in class, but I think it can offer some valuable insights nonetheless. Not all people would think this to be a tragedy, at least in the traditional sense, but while watching it, I really felt like it was.
As Miriam-Webster defines tragedy, it is "a dramatic composition, often in verse, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction." In regards to this definition, Braveheart fits right in with this study of tragedy.
As Miriam-Webster defines tragedy, it is "a dramatic composition, often in verse, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction." In regards to this definition, Braveheart fits right in with this study of tragedy.
The basic storyline of the film is that of William Wallace, who is a patriotic Scot, is fighting against the tyranny of King Longshanks of England. He has many troubles in this fight, many of them arising from the fact that all the warring tribes of Scotland refuse to get along, even when threatened with England looming over the head of their country. Eventually, Wallace is betrayed by some clan leaders he was trying to unite, and falls into the hands of the English. He is executed as a traitor, in front of a huge crowd, but he refuses to cry out through his torture, with the thinking that if he cries out, Longshanks would have won. The only word he says, right before his head is cut off, is "freedom." This serves as enough encouragement to rally the clans of Scotland to final victory against the English, and the film ends with the final battle which results in Scottish victory.
The reason I view this as a tragedy is that Wallace is definitely a hero, who is working against supposedly insurmountable odds to accomplish something that he believes in with all his heart. He is eventually defeated, but not his ultimate cause, which achieves victory after his death. This is not a tragedy in the same sense as the Greek plays are, but it is nonetheless. Wallace is a tragic hero, who is killed but refuses to let go of his morals or his cause, even to the point of death.
The reason I view this as a tragedy is that Wallace is definitely a hero, who is working against supposedly insurmountable odds to accomplish something that he believes in with all his heart. He is eventually defeated, but not his ultimate cause, which achieves victory after his death. This is not a tragedy in the same sense as the Greek plays are, but it is nonetheless. Wallace is a tragic hero, who is killed but refuses to let go of his morals or his cause, even to the point of death.
I love that you put in a blog post that isn't just related to the stuff we are doing in class, it gives a fresh prespective on tragedy that we haven't talke about in class. :)
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