The Unlikely Tragic Hero Essay Example for Free

The Unlikely Tragic Hero EssayIn his essay on tragedy, Arthur Miller once wrote the tragic feeling is evoked in us when we ar in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his action, if need be, to secure mavin thinghis sense of personal dignity. This insightful view of the common mans ability to be a tragic champ is emblematic of the female protagonist, Mrs. Alving, in Henrik Ibsens controversial drama Ghosts. In her fight to pull her family together and fabricate the archetypal wife Mrs. Alving learns of lifes tragedies- she loses everything she loves and all she has built in the name of dignity.Regardless of the deleterious internal cause on her psyche, Mrs. Alving protects and uphold her values. She respects marriage she knew her husband was unfaithful, barely Mrs. Alving did non end the relationship as she wanted to uphold her matrimonial vows. She recalls soon after, I perceive Alving fall down in too. I heard him say something softly to her. And then I heard oh it still sounds in my ears, so hateful and yet so ludicrous I heard my own servant-maid whisper, Let me go, Mr. Alving Let me be (1.405). Though she fights to empathize the straightness, she has nobly held her tongue to but her boy and let her husband die honorably.Although she believes it is a bad vagary to leave the newly built orphanage uninsured, she protects Manders from public indignation by complying with his anti insurance bringing close together this drives a regrettable decision when the orphanage burns down. She still respects Manders ability to function infra the laws of society, but when he makes note of the ignominious progressive books she has been reading Mrs. Alving becomes defensive. She explains, here, in my loneliness, I have come to the same way of thinking, Pastor Manders. But I have never dared to say anything (1.351). While she has a strong belief in progressive ideas, Mrs. Alving would never shame her family by outwardly expressing them.M rs. Alving respects her family plenteous to realize they will be hurt if she does not hold everything together. She imparts only fond memories of Mr. Alving to her son Oswald and reminds him of the familial ties which they must live by. As Oswald refers to his father saying, and yet he managed to do so much in the world so much that was good and useful although he died so early the reader realizes how delusional his vision of his father is (1.295).Deeply obliged to both her son and her late husband, Mrs. Alving fights to cover up the truth of her marriage and provide the best for her son, striving to protect his innocence and morality. She believes she can save her son from anything, though as her marital situation worsened she could not bear the thought of keeping her son in such an environment, she explains I had to bear it for my little boys sake. But when the last insult was added when my own servant-maid then I swore to myself This shall come to an end (1.411). She did not wan t him to suffer from the actions of his father, thus she sends him abroad.Continually fighting to protect those almost her, Mrs. Alving only hurts herself in the process. She invites Captain Alvings lovechild, Regina, to live and work in their home to ensure she receives a medium education. It is only later that she becomes aware of her son and Reginas relations- an incestual relationship made possible by Mrs. Alvings kindness to the newborn Regina by letting her live in their home. In behaving under the societal guidelines and ignoring her husbands despicable actions, Mrs. Alving only pushed him set ahead away. The absence of a faithful husband created a perpetual loneliness in Mrs. Alving and though she open peace of mind in sending her son Oswald abroad, his absence devastated her and their relationship would never be repaired.Plagued by the internal guilt of her husbands unfaithfulness, Mrs. Alving concludes that their environment pushed her to become the societal faade of a wife. By viewing life through societys vantage point, Mrs Alving became a dutiful wife, who unfortunately fell into the mechanic motions of a wifes day-to-day duties. Upon realizing her fault, she apologizes to her son saying, they had taught me a great deal about duties and so forth, which I went on obstinately believing in.Everything was tag out into duties into my duties, and his duties, and I am afraid I made his home intolerable for your poor father, Oswald(3.122). Mrs. Alving sees how she added to her husbands lugubriousness and thus tries to make up for his wrongdoings. She dedicates the orphanage to him, even though he was unfaithful to her. She believes in presentation respect, and making sure her husband is remembered in the light which others knew him. She believes she will have fixed everything once she rids herself and her family of the true memories of her husband.The morality of societys ability to coerce the family unit to function under traditionally acceptabl e conditions has been questioned throughout history. Henrik Ibsen enables his readers to become aware of the horrible truths that lie behind closed doors in his contentious 1881 Norwegian drama, Ghosts. Mrs. Alving suffers from the conflict between the external pressures of society battling what she believes is moral. Her societal training has taught her how to gracefully handle any situation- sweep your troubles under the carpeting and wait for them to creep out when you are most vulnerable.The tragic events she faces throughout this play result in the domino effect which stems from the intricate web of society-pleasing lies she has spun since marrying Captain Alving. Eventually Mrs. Alving comes to the understanding that societal dignity is not a panacea ones ability to complete the tasks of a dutiful wife will not save a marriage, will not show a child love, nor will it create a fairy tale ending. Mrs. Alving does not live happily ever after, rather she is left isolated. She wi ll continue on in her dignified lonesome state of living.