Are there any fallen heroes like Anakin in Myth/Religion/History?

Yalking about movies, today I remembed Rocky V. The relation between Rocky Balboa - now a master - and his young apprentice (I don't recall his name) remembers a lot the Obi-Wan/Anakin story in the SW saga.

 

Incarnation of evil? I'm not so sure. Certianly, Anakin serves evil, does many evil things... but is he himself evil? I don't think so. True villiany lies not in the commission of evil, but in the denial of it. Or to quote Luke:

"It is your true self. You've only forgotten."

Just by way of thought....

 

Up.

This is one of my favorite threads.

Edit: Seing the last seasons of Buffy, I think we can say that Spike has became a tragic hero.

 

This is a great topic.

Actually I started a thread on the 3SA called Anakin/Vader as Aristotle's Tragic Hero. It goes into A LOT of detail and is quite lengthy by now, if anyone is interested.


I would liken Anakin's situation to that of Macbeth's. There were 3 major factor's that led to Macbeth's downfall- 1. a prophecy (the witches) 2. The influence of someone more evil than himself 3. His own ambition and pride. Anakin fits into that well. Although I wouldn't say that they are the same personality wise necessarily... just their situations.

I would also say he is close to Achilles.


Oh yeah, I love Spike, but he isn't a tragic hero. He doesn't fit Aristotle's definition at least... he's missing a few elements- most importantly a Tragic Flaw.

 

The Ring is a very good parallel to the Dark Side, since it contains the greatest part of the strength and power of the embodiment of evil in modern Middle Earth- Sauron.

Yes, Saruman was once good, but he fell from the path of wisdom. "It is dangerous to study too deeply the arts of the Enemy." But he never turns back.

Let us not forget Ar-Pharazon.


Asoka Maharaja, an early Emperor of India, is a Buddhist figure who was "evil" to begin with, but was redeemed. He was a ruthless conqueror, but when he saw one of the battlefields from his war, and the hundred thousand dead, he was overcome with remorse, and began to propagate and study Buddhist teachings, and establish and protect monasteries.

Seigiryu, tell the story of Uesugi Kenshin's death!
J/K!

 

Napolion

 

Also King David. Began in humble circumstances, rose to greatness through no special trait of his own, only the gifts of God, served greatly, fell mightily, and then was redeemed.

 

Paul Atredies...obviously

 

Socrates.

He was killed for his beliefs, but was understood while dying.