In
the TV program Arrow, Oliver Queen is
a billionaire playboy who after a harrowing experience on an island, become a
hero. This character is based off of a comic book series called the Green Arrow
and, as we know, modern super heroes often share characteristics with the heroes
of myth. This show in particular does is a very good example of a tragic hero’s
story and that theme repeats in various forms and plots.
The
tragic hero from Greek myth is nearly always of noble origin. While Oliver
Queen does not come from a line of rulers or kings, he does come from a family
of great wealth and power. In contemporary times, this is as close to nobility
as it gets. Individuals born into wealthy families can be compared to noble
families in antiquity in terms of wealth, power, and social standing.
The
manner in which Oliver Queen became a hero was very characteristic of a tragic
hero. He was on a vacation on a large yacht with his friends and family when
the boat capsized, killing everyone but Oliver. He washed up on the shore of an
unknown island where he was taken by a mysterious military force and was
tortured for some time. This is characteristic of a tragic hero in that the
story starts off well, but soon declines into serious trouble for the hero.
-Kevin Sullivan
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