By definition, a tragic hero is a protagonist that due to some tragic flaw loses everything he has. Throughout history, literature has always been filled with main characters possessing some tragic flaw. In Macbeth, Macbeths tragic flaw is his enormous ambition to become king. In Hamlet, Hamlets tragic flaw is his need for revenge for the death of his father at the hands of his uncle. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgameshs tragic flaw is his need to be remembered. In the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, Beowulf also has a tragic flaw, excessive pride and the search for fame, which ultimately leads to his demise. Beowulf was a highly skilled and great fighter, but because of his over-confidence in himself the fire-breathing dragon kills him. Beowulfs excessive pride is evident from the very beginning of the epic. He is almost always boasting about himself to one person or the other. In the first part of the epic, when Beowulf first travels to Hrothgars kingdom to rid him of Grendel, he talks about the mighty deeds he has done in his life. Hail, Hrothgar, health ever keep you! I am Hyglelacs thane and kinsman; mighty deeds I have done in my youththey saw themselves how I came from combat bloodied by enemies where I crushed down five, killed a tribe of giants, and on the waves at night slew water-beasts; no easy task, but I dove out trouble from Geatland-they asked for it, the enemies I killed.(Beowulf p73)One can easily picture him standing proud and tall in front of a multitude of fellow warriors, proclaiming all the deeds he has accomplished in his lifetime. He has no doubt in his mind that he is more than able to kill the wretched Grendel. But because of his overconfidence and popularity, not everyone one he knew loved him. Some people hated him and even criticized him for his excessive pride.Perhaps the best criticism of Beowulf comes from the mouth of the son of Ecglaf, Unferth. He says: Are you the same Beowulf who challenged Breca to a sw...
