William Wallace: Aristotelian Tragic Hero

Charles Wallace thought he would be able to control it, but he let his pride get the best of him. Despite being so intelligent and bright, he still has flaws but more importantly courage.

William Pitt: British general; also known as the "Great Commoner" and "Organizer of Victory"; switched British focus in war from West Indies to Quebec-Montreal area; led 1758 expedition against Louisbourg (first significant British victory); appointed James Wolfe for Quebec expedition, 1759; led to fall of Montreal in 1760 (no more French left in Canada

A tragic hero in Shakespearean literature is understood as a noble and heroic character who makes a series of bad decisions based on his bad judgment that leads to his downfall and eventually death. In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, the tragic hero is Marcus Brutus, a powerful Roman senator who joins a conspiracy to assassinate the Roman ruler, Julius Caesar. Marcus Brutus is a tragic hero because of his noble reputation, his moral personality, the cathartic experience that the audience feels from his life and his tragic flaw: idealism.

William Wallace was a Scottish Knight who became Commander in the Scottish Wars of Independence (along with Andrew de Moray). He was of historical importance because he led the Scots to victory after England was invading Scotland. He was born sometime in 1270 and was brutally executed on the 23rd of August 1305 for high treason against English civilians. He argued the point of treason considering that he was not part of England. But that didn’t stop him from being hanged, drawn and quartered.

Wallace had achieved many accomplishments through his life including, being a Texas Ranger, fighting in eight battles, and saving many lives along the frontier. He left a huge legacy on the Texas frontier by showing what bravery meant and helping the settlers colonize the wilds of Texas. He represents the Texas spirit by showing integrity and bravery to make the Texas frontiers a better place. While he`s not one of the hallmark names you hear everyday day he is a legend and while his story still goes unread he is the true meaning of a true Humble American Hero.

He suffered disembowelment, emasculation, and mutilatation. Wallace became a martyr for Scotland, not only because he defied England, but because he did it with pride and for a reason. "The End."

The epic poem Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney, provides examples of bravery which were valued during the Anglo-Saxon period. Beowulf is at that time known for his superhuman abilities. From defeating monsters such as those who are descended from Cain, first biblical murderer, and a revenge seeking dragon, Beowulf proves that he exhibits great bravery in everything he does. In this work, Beowulf’s battle against Grendel and the dragon portrays that an effective and noble leader expresses immense bravery by protecting their people while keeping thoughts of fame and glory in mind.

Dillon Carlson Mrs. Warner English-7 September 15,2014 William Wallace William Wallace had responsibility for his country when he led wars in Scotland. William Wallace was born in the month of August 23, 1270 near Paisley, Renfrew. His father was named Sir Malcolm Wallace. Sir Malcolm Wallace was a landowner in Renfrew. William Wallace grew up with his best friend named Robert de Bruce.

William Wallace was born poor in Elderslie, Scotland with his dad being a small landowner. He grew up under the leadership of king Alexander III, which also was a time of peace for Scotland. Their king died in a horse riding accident but his granddaughter which was next in line for queen died the boat ride to Scotland After she died that’s when Edward I became king.William decided to fight for peace when a soldier tried to rape his wife and she attacked the knight out of defence, she faced trial and was convicted for attacking an authoritative figure, which the penalty was death with soldier no consequence.

In Braveheart¸ the Scottish hero William Wallace loses his father and older brother to an English ambush at a very young age. He is taken abroad by his uncle Argyle and taught Latin and French as well as how to fight with a sword. Upon his return to his clan in Scotland, he falls in love with his childhood love Murron MacClannaugh. They marry in secret to avoid the right of Prima Nocta, where the English lord has all sexual rights with the bride on the first night of union. Wallace attempts to live a peaceful life of a farmer without having any conflict with the English. This dream is shattered when he fights off a group of English guards trying to rape his wife. As they try to escape, Murron is captured and publically executed by the Sheriff . After slitting her throat, he announces "an assault on the King's soldiers is the same as an assault on the King himself."(Gibson, 1995). After learning of Murron's death, Wallace and a group of villagers attack the English fort and kill off the entire Garrison. Wallace executes the Sheriff in the same manner that the Sheriff murdered his wife. After this daring assault, hundreds of Scots and Irish rush to join Wallace's militia as he continues his campaign to liberate

The Mel Gibson film, released in 1995 in the United States, shows the struggle of William Wallace and his band of Scottish and Irish brothers going against the tyranny of English rule. Many people make the mistake though when viewing the film. From my own knowledge, I know that the Scottish did not paint their faces blue. That’s as far as my knowledge of the film before viewing goes. What I plan to do in this research essay is to write out the inaccuracies in the film, and address

In the movie, Wallace is introduced to the audience as a common man with very humble beginnings whose father was a farmer. He was in fact not the son of a common farmer but the son of a low-level. Wallace first acted in anger against the English when he was insulted by the son of an English governor and proceeded to strike him dead and he began his military career. His military dream to free Scotland started in May 1297 after the murder of Marion Braidfoot who is the historical basis for the character Murron in Braveheart. Wallace won the battle of Stirling; he was kind of disappointed when he remembered that he had to fight the English king. The English king brought his army north. The English army had infantry and archers as well as over 3000 cavalry. The Scottish army was only half the size and had almost no cavalry. The Scottish army lost, Wallace however went into hiding. The film Braveheart makes the audience believe that Wallace went around killing his enemies in Scotland, there is however no historical evidence for this belief. Politics were beginning to change due to the manipulations of Edward I and even England’s enemies wouldn’t offer Wallace any help. After traveling to France, germane and Rome he returns to Scotland after almost years abroad to find out he was betrayed to the English by a Scottish noble named Sir John Menteith and was turned over to the English for a trial. He was then taken to for trial and execution. The film Braveheart is

William Wallace is considered a legend in Scotland. For years, England and Scotland were at war, and behind many of the battles for Scotland’s independence was William Wallace. While the information about him, like any good hero, might be over exaggerated by some historians, what’s true is that he gave the country hope that Scotland could be free from English Tyranny. For years after he died, others took his place in saving Scotland from English rule.

Sir William Drummond once said “He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool; and he who dares not is a slave” (Drummond). Everyone has the innate ability to reason through situations and come to a resolution by evaluating the consequences. Everyone, however, does not actively reason to come to an effective solution. Some choose not to reason, while others basically cannot due to their naivety. In any case the incapability to reason turns out to be a flaw, and in the instance of Marcus Brutus, a tragic flaw. Reasoning is not characteristically present in Marcus Brutus. Brutus cannot look past his philosophical view of the world and consequently his reasoning is meddled with. This flaw he exhibits will eventually lead to his death. According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must be of noble stature and embody nobility, they cannot be perfect, their downfall must partially be their own fault, their demise is not exclusively justified for their punishment, something is gained from the fall, and the audience must not leave in a state of depression; Brutus fits Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero because he embodies all of these characteristics.

In 1296 King Edward I of England overthrew the Scottish monarchy of the Scottish king John de Balliol and declared himself ruler of Scotland and placed it under English rule. The Scottish couldn’t stand for this a quickly mounted a rebellion against the English “Sporadic resistance had already occurred when, in May 1297, Wallace and a band of some 30 men burned Lanark and killed its English sheriff. Wallace then organized an army of commoners and small landowners and attacked the English garrisons between the Rivers Forth and Tay. On Sept. 11, 1297, an English army under John de Warenne, earl of Surrey, confronted him at the Forth near