Villains as the most compelling and admirable characters in tragedies Karol Seroczynski 12th Grade

Many tragic villains throughout a scope of tragedies have left audiences debating whether they were truly in the wrong, writers often introduce an ambiguity to their plays, novels or poems to allow the audience to debate the morality of the play. This can be seen in relation to two texts I have studied, Shakespeare’s “Richard II” and John Keats’ “Lamia” and “Isabella; or, The pot of Basil.” Though there is certain ambiguity regarding the true tragic villain within Shakespeare’s “Richard II”, the general consensus is that Bolingbroke is ultimately the antagonist of the play. However, it is this ambiguity that allows Bolingbroke, though being the villain, to be the most admirable character of the play.

Shakespeare begins the play by creating empathy towards Bolingbroke, which is unlike other tragic villains from his plays, inferring an ambiguity around whether Bolingbroke is truly the antagonist. This empathy is created towards Bolingbroke through the injustices Richard commits against Bolingbroke, within Act 1, Richard settles the dispute between Bolingbroke and Mowbray by banishing both, Bolingbroke for 10 years – later becomes 6 – and Mowbray for life, “Till twice five summers have enrich’d our fields Shall not regret our fair...