Trials of a Hero

A detailed Summary of Trials of a Hero

Hero worship has existed in this world since the beginning of time, from

the Jews honoring Moses, to the Germans honoring Adolf Hitler. Becoming a hero

is a very difficult thing to accomplish. One must be successful in gaining the

reverence of one's peers while at the same time not developing to big of an ego.

Two examples of men trying to become heroes are Prince Henry and Dr. Faustus.

Both, in their respective plays, have the capabilities of becoming a hero, but

only Prince Henry succeeds while Dr. Faustus fails.

At the beginning of The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus, Faustus is a

well known doctor and is looked up to by his friends. Hal, on the other hand,

starts out in Henry IV, Part I, spending much of his time in a tavern engaged in

talk with robbers and hoodlums, therefore being looked down upon by the high

society which he is supposed to live in. While it appears that Faustus seems to

be headed to becoming a hero and Hal seems to be throwing away his chances, the

audience can see from their soliloquies, that they both plan on changing their

ways; Hal for the better and Faustus for the worse.

Faustus has risen to a great point in his life. He was born to "parents

base of stock (line 11)," but still has manag

A hero is defined as "b. a man of courage and nobility famed for his

Hal on the other hand, does not plan on staying on his corrupt path. He

However, unlike Dr. Faustus, Prince Henry does accomplish the feat of

looking up to him. Now with this new found admiration, Prince Henry has gained

individuals to have some fun, but when the time comes, he will take on the

served by Mephastophilis, and at the end of his life, when he realizes that he

threatens: "'Faustus, come thine hour is come!' (line 41)." Faustus asks

that no matter how unruly the individuals are that he hangs out with, they do

Being wanted, he may be more wondered at

To guide thy steps unto the way of life,

that he will go through with it: EVIL ANGEL. Ay, but Faustus never shall repent

Approximate Word count = 1112
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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