Oj Simpson : A Tragic Hero Of O. J. Simpson

O.J. Simpson should have been found guilty of murder because of evidence found before his trial. O.j. and Nicole married in 1985 and began their family by having their first child, Sydney and three years later, Justin. All seemed well in the relationship until family members and friends came out that O.J. has been abusing her all seven years of marriage (Noble). Nicole kept journal entries recording what she went through daily from mental and physical abuse to stalking. “Threw me on the floor hit me kicked me. We went to Sherry Land Hotel where he continued to beat me for hours as I kept crawling for the door” (Brown). Nicole called the police eight times, but O.J. was never actually arrested, only once. “She’s wearing nothing but a bra

The book that I am going to introduce is Outrage: The Five Reasons Why O.J. Got Away With Murder, written by Vincent Bugliosi, and was published on June 17, 1996. We all know that Nichole Simpson and Ronald Goldman were stabbed to death and their bodies were discovered on June 12, 1994 early morning. It was said that after a car chase, O.J. was found with $9,000 I cash, his passport, disguise, and a gun. O.J. Simpson who is her ex-husband was acquitted October 3, 1995, for their deaths in a trial that riveted the nation and divided people along racial differences. In 1997, he was ordered to pay a little over $33 million for their deaths. O.J. Simpson is still serving time in prison for things like kidnapping, robbery, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, and numerous other charges. Mr. Bugliosi sums up five reason why the case was lost. Those five can be labeled as the jury, the change in venue or settings, the judge allowing the defense to play the race card, the stupidity of the prosecution throughout the trial, and lastly the summation of what should really have been done. But in honesty when the media started reporting about this case it was already falling apart.

On June 12th, 1994, Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman’s bodies were found Nicole’s condominium; the victims had been stabbed to death. The identity of the murderer was unknown up until O.J was suspected to be a suspect. When accused, he was in another state, and was forced to fly back. (Aaseng 1996)

Soon later the police finally picked up enough evidence to get a warrant for his arrest. Simpson and his lawyer Robert Shapiro both agreed that he will turn himself in at 10:00 am on June 17. Simpson didn’t go at the time he was given so the policemen and Robert Shapiro went to Simpsons home and discovered that he disappeared and left a letter saying "Don't feel sorry for me. I've had a great life, great friends. Please think of the real O. J. and not this lost person.  Thanks for making my life special. I hope I helped yours. Peace and love, O. J." (Linder). Policemen and his lawyer thought it was a suicide letter. Until someone in Orange County saw Simpson riding a white bronco and immediately called the police. Only a couple of minutes later police cars and helicopters were chasing him, they followed Simpson all the way to his front gate of his house. Policemen saw that he was wearing a fake beard and had $8,750 in cash, loaded gun, and a passport, days later he was on his first day of the trial. On Tuesday, Jan 24, 1995 was the first day of the trial, Judge Lance Ito open to the people in the courtroom that he will be expecting to see some good lawyering skills for the case. Christopher Darden who open the trial said that Simpson was and abusive and a jealous husband to Nicole B. Simpson.

In order for a character to qualify as the tragic hero they must posses all of these qualities: high standing, a major flaw, and a downfall. A tragic hero is someone that is usually of royalty, of nobility, honest, or brave. During the story they usually show a major flaw or weakness. This usually leads to their downfall, loss of power, or even death. Many stories have tragic heroes.

According to Aristotle, “A tragic hero is a character who is not eminently good and just, yet whose misfortune is brought about not by vice and depravity, but by some error or frailty…” The classic tragic hero has some type of tragic character flaw which creates an inner struggle, leads to his making a serious error in judgment, and leads to his eventual downfall and death.

A tragic hero is an influential character who experienced a privileged life, partook in a rise to fame or fortune, then declined due to a flaw in personality or life decision. Whitney Houston was a one-of-a-kind singer who stole hearts across America. She is a perfect example of a tragic hero, due to her amazing vocal talent, influential role in teaching America that everyone has flaws and embracing individuality is the key to success, and her ultimate decline in health and fame due to alcoholism, drug abuse, and poor marital decisions.

O. J. Simpson was a famous football star. He was an educated, admirable man. Many people looked up to him but people in the spotlight often have alter egos as I believe OJ did. He may have seemed to be an amazing character but I believe he has yet to receive justice.

Orenthal James Simpson, as known as O.J. O.J. was accused of robbing his own memorabilia back in a Las Vegas hotel room on the night of September 13, 2007. O.J. along with a group of men were accused of breaking into the hotel room. O.J. is a retired American Football player also known for being acquitted for the murders of his Ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and friend Ron Goldman back in 1995. (2007-2008 State of Nevada v. Orenthal James Simpson)

They gathered enough evidence to charge him with two counts of first-degree murder. The prosecution, therefore, had to prove that O.J knowingly caused the demise of both Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. Simpson’s house guest was recorded saying that he saw O.J Simpson, shortly after the murder, being pulled up in his white Bronco. Moreover, the limo driver stated that he waited for him for fifteen minutes before driving him to the airport. Interestingly, the times given by the witnesses coincided with suspected murder time proving that Simpson actually had planned the crime. His alibi was also precarious. He also had a record of spousal abuse. All evidence was against him and after the police established all crime elements, Simpson was charged

There has been a lot of discussion about what truly defines a tragic hero. If we take a look at the work of well known Philosopher Aristotle, he clearly defined what is needed for a character to be considered a tragic hero. He pointed out 5 specific traits that the person must have to fit the role. They must have skewed judgement, which normally puts them in the position that they are facing. The character must have a realization during the story, there should be an event where they find out that their immoral ways have led them down a path of destruction. They should figure out their wrong doings on their own by taking the time to reflect upon themselves and understand the mistakes they have been making in life, and how to correct them. The person should be filled with pride, as if no one can touch

On June 17, 1994 when police charged Orenthal James Simpson, Brown's ex-husband, and after leading police on a 60 mile low speed chase down the highways of southern Los Angeles in his friend Al Cowling's white Bronco, was arrested and jailed without bail, the story became even more complicated. This was when the police knew this would not be just any murder case. This was OJ Simpson, the famous football player, this would be complicated. Their only hope of conviction was the evidence that would place him as the murderer.

Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero is someone of great importance or royalty. The hero must go through something terrible such as a relative’s death. We must feel what this character is feeling throughout the story. Aristotle also said that a tragic hero scan be defeated by a tragic flaw, such as hubris or human pride. In Sophocles’ tragedy Antigone, both Creon and Antigone are tragic heroes.

What is a tragic hero? According to Aristotle, a tragic hero is a literary, noble character who makes a judgment mistake that eventually leads to his/her downfall. In the book Things Fall Apart, Okonkwo is our tragic hero. His leadership and eventual nobility, big reversal as a character, and his tragic flaws that lead to his downfall, are classic examples why Okonkwo is a tragic hero.

It is difficult to believe that O.J. Simpson was once a respected and celebrated professional football player, sports commentator, and actor. However, his image was irrevocably shattered on June 17, 1994 when Simpson was involved in a car chase that lasted about an hour on California's I-405 (O.J. Simpson leads L.A. police on a high-speed chase, 2013). Dubbed the "Crime of the Century," O.J. Simpson's trial was a media circus and was sensationalized for a number of reasons including Simpson's status as a celebrity, the mishandling of evidence, and the issue of race.