Kings as Main Characters in Literature Essay - 765 Words

The stories about kings are universally appealing, and the leaders in literature works often bear many similarities. For instance, it seems that leaders of all societies share certain common characteristics and attributes including courage, loyalty, tremendous ordeal experience and absolutely selfness. All of these are key factors leading to ultimate triumph and the deeds of heroes are usually of great benefits to others. However, differences in culture, social system, values and social background etc. actually endows heroes with diverse personalities varying from person to person and culture to culture. With rich imagination, every child molds his or her supreme leaders with authorities. But as time goes by, children are gradually†¦show more content†¦Characterizing several valiant kings fighting for the glory of Greece, Homers Iliad also enthralls readers with the charming valor of heroes. Hector is in many ways an ideal king: he is a man of compassion and piety, a man of integrity and bravery, a man who loves his family, and above all, a man who understands and fulfills his social obligations under the stringent rules of the leadership code. While Achilles opposing enemy, Hector’s action of commanding the Troy Army also demonstrates the fundamental trait of an ancient Greek warrior — the willingness to risk his life to defend the honor of his country. As two great kings, both Hector and Beowulf display the virtues of a king: devotion to his country, to his people, to gods and family. The Oedipus Rex, a Sophoclean tragedy, mainly aims to deliver the idea how a king learns to be modest before the gods through sufferings. In the play, readers can acquire the theme by analyzing King Oedipus’ tragic flaws. Describing the changing process of Oedipus changes from a powerful and majestic king to â€Å"the world’s outcast†, Sophocles vividly leads readers to perceive the theme. For instance, at the very beginning of the play, readers can easily feel Oedipus’ hubris through Sophocles’ description on Oedipus’s behaviors when he steps down from the altar. Addressing the people of Thebes to discuss the deadly plague attacking Thebes, Oedipus explainsShow MoreRelatedAmbition and Death - the Story of the Renaissance in Macbeth1189 Words   |  5 Pagesdeath at the end of the play. Because of his change of character from good to evil, Macbeth s attitude towards other characters, specifically Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macbeth, and the witches , is significantly affected. In a larger sense, the theme of bad versus good kingship, embodied by Macbeth and Duncan, respectively, would have resonated at the royal court, where James was busy developing his English version of the theory of divine right. 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