Most Tragic Figure

[Fallenstar]

We just did Aristotle's definition of a Western tragic hero in English class for another character, based on that definition I feel in Middle-Earth the most fitting tragic hero is Turin. First of all the hero must have a great status, and Turin is the son of Hurin. He also became the legendary Blacksword and always turns out to be a lord in some places. An tragic hero also needs to be "neither completely evil nor completely good", which Turin is again, an good example. He is definitely not evil, he tried to protect everybody from the Golden Worm and Morgorth's army. But judging from what he did to Beleg (even though it was an accident), Finduilas,etc. he is not competely good either, he is very easily thrown into rage and hurt people. A typical western tragic hero must be catapulted into a huge fall, which Turin experienced many, but the ultimate one is when he realized he married his sister of course. Aristotle also said that after the death of the tragic hero the readers feel relieved and even elevated. After Turin's death I certainly felt relieved of the heavy sorrow he bore with him and transmitted to the reader. So I think Turin is the best candidate for this position as "the most tragic hero in Tolkien's story by Aristotle's definition"