I am looking for some inspiration on creating a tragic hero. I know of some of the classical Greek ones, such as Oedipus, but feel free to mention them and why you think it's worth checking into. And I am really interested in knowing how others have handled it.
The tragic hero story would actually be a small side-story to my primary story, but it's one the hero of my current story would need to know, so that he can avoid the mistakes made in the past.
Also, does a tragic hero necessarily have to die? The backstory I've developed so far has him survive, although the hero recognizes his mistake afterwards, and does a lot of soul-searching and repenting for his actions (while the main antagonist for that story also suffers a loss, but instead of taking the repentant route, he tries to take a more evil, sinister path). The ending I have right now for that story is that the hero does one last heroic deed, and afterwards disappears. By that, I mean he lives in seclusion and writes about a lot of stuff that the present day hero discovers. So could he be considered a "tragic hero" if he survives? Or does he have to sacrifice himself (which one's more cliche lol).
Although the modern-day hero isn't related by blood to the hero of the past, there's a common spiritual bond which connects them together in ways that a bloodline can't, plus I don't want to make another story of some guy and his ancestor stopping some evil power. I suppose it's not as "cool", but I want to try something different.
Fallen heroes are okay too by the way. I am thinking about developing one as well, who becomes a great hero, and then ultimately chooses to side with evil. But for now a tragic hero is okay (mine doesn't turn to the dark side, he just made some choices which weren't good, but weren't "evil" as we'd think, considering the situation when they're made).
The tragic hero story would actually be a small side-story to my primary story, but it's one the hero of my current story would need to know, so that he can avoid the mistakes made in the past.
Also, does a tragic hero necessarily have to die? The backstory I've developed so far has him survive, although the hero recognizes his mistake afterwards, and does a lot of soul-searching and repenting for his actions (while the main antagonist for that story also suffers a loss, but instead of taking the repentant route, he tries to take a more evil, sinister path). The ending I have right now for that story is that the hero does one last heroic deed, and afterwards disappears. By that, I mean he lives in seclusion and writes about a lot of stuff that the present day hero discovers. So could he be considered a "tragic hero" if he survives? Or does he have to sacrifice himself (which one's more cliche lol).
Although the modern-day hero isn't related by blood to the hero of the past, there's a common spiritual bond which connects them together in ways that a bloodline can't, plus I don't want to make another story of some guy and his ancestor stopping some evil power. I suppose it's not as "cool", but I want to try something different.
Fallen heroes are okay too by the way. I am thinking about developing one as well, who becomes a great hero, and then ultimately chooses to side with evil. But for now a tragic hero is okay (mine doesn't turn to the dark side, he just made some choices which weren't good, but weren't "evil" as we'd think, considering the situation when they're made).
