Tragedy Reveals True Character

Most people develop a general idea of who they are throughout their lives based on how they react to certain situations. Often times these perceptions that people have of themselves are comforting to think about because their perceptions are that they are good people, and have quality personality traits.  In Arthur Miller's Definition of Tragedy, he brings up the interesting topic of a "terror and fear" that is associated with tragedy, and is still relevant in today's society.  I completely agree with Arthur Miller, and the "terror and fear" that he discusses in his article.  Character is tested when a person is faced with a tragic situation, and it is very interesting to see how people react during these situations.  The "terror and fear" that is present in tragedies is due to a person's fear that they will be torn away from the chosen image, or perception that they have created for themselves in this world.  More often than not, when a person is faced with a tragedy in their lifetime, their reaction is very drastic, and unfitting towards their normal personality.  For example, after discovering that he married his mother, and killed his father, Oedipus decides to gouge his eyes out in order to punish himself.  Also, in the play Hamlet, after learning of his father's murder, Hamlet decides to seek revenge on those responsible instead of just forgiving them, and letting it go.  As for the real world, a tragedy has recently presented itself at Penn State.  As many people know, it has just been discovered that a former football coach had sexually abused many children on and around the Penn State campus.  It is no secret that this is a huge tragedy for not only the families of the victims, but also the University and its reputation as well. However, it is most interesting to learn of how certain people reacted to this tragedy, specifically Joe Paterno.  Joe Paterno is a legendary football coach, and a very generous man who played a huge part in making Penn State the University it is today, both academically and athletically.  Although, when he was told of this tragedy, he only told the people above him, and never went to the police.  This is a real life example that tragedy indeed does reveal true character because while Joe Paterno had always done the right thing his entire life, and was always a very generous man, when he was faced with this tragedy he did not do the right thing, and clearly did not have the victims and their families in mind when he didn't go to the police right away.  In my opinion, he didn't go to the authorities because he was trying to protect the reputation of the university as well as the football program at Penn State.  In other words, it was his fear that his image, and the image of the football program would be torn away, and replaced with one of less respect, and dignity.