Character Flaws and Tragedy

The forces that drive men to make decisions, and the results that follow, are complex aspects within human nature and must be constantly attended to so that the resulting consequences do not create circumstances and situations that are worse than the original. The dilemma is how to do this, and what does it take to make the right decisions. How does a man determine truth from rumor? How does he react to information that is against his moral standards? How does he remain fair and just in the face of suspicion and doubt? There has to be, within the man 's character, a set of values and principles that enables him to draw the right conclusions and act with clarity, which will ensure results that are minimally damaging to those involved. This assignment, being a topic of my own choosing focusing primarily on Hamlet, while incorporating other readings, discussions, etc, will be presented in an extemporaneous fashion. In past research I came across an article by Paul Graham "The age of the Essay" that said, "In a real essay you don 't take a position and defend it. You notice a door that 's ajar, and you open it and walk in to see what 's inside." (4) With that I would like to attempt to take Oedipus, Hamlet, and Dante and present my final paper (essay) on consequences. What are the consequences of one 's actions, thoughts, and deeds? What do these three men teach us today about choices we make, and why we make those choices when faced with truths and situations we don 't like? Consequences are the direct result of actions. Actions are more often a physical response, but can also be emotional, intellectual, and even spiritual. Actions can be taken against someone or some thing. The key is to make the choice for the correct action that will result in the best consequences. Obviously, none of these men 's choices led to very good consequences, but together they give a lesson on what it takes to make right choices for good results. All three works are

Cited: Sources Pinsky, Robert. The Inferno of Dante. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1994. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1991. Thompson, Ann, and Neil Taylor (edited by). Hamlet. Arden Shakespeare, 2006. Graham, Paul. "The Age of the Essay". September 2004. http://www.paulgraham.com/essay.html 11/28/2006.