use this blog as a place to discuss your writing assignment. Thinking about present day society, are there families/individuals that could inspire an ode? Identify one of the families/individuals. Discuss how aspects of this situation reflect the ideals of true tragedy as articulated by Aristotle. What "tragic beauty" (Yeats) can be found in this story?
My idea is to use Worf, the Klingon from Star Trek. His tragic flaw is the honor and pride his culture places so much emphasis on. Worf's half human son is especially affected by how he hides his love and emotions. There was a particular episode in which Worf had gotten paralyzed from the waist down. Not being able to walk on his own was a major blow to his pride, and Worf refused to let his son visit. This describes terrible beauty because inwardly Worf is suffering and wants to display affection toward his son, but his pride won't allow him to do so and outwardly he retains dignity.
ReplyDeleteNicloe. While this is not a "current" persona, it is not one from a book; therefore, this sounds like it will work. Make sure that you can address both the good and bad aspects reflected in Worf's character. Look at the handout from today, specifically "what we can't have" and the "four things to aim at" areas. My question might be is he "lifelike" and reflecting humanity, rather than the supernatural (per the handout). My knowledge base of Klingon culture is a little lacking;)
ReplyDeleteMy idea is to use Michael Jackson as a current tragic hero. His goodness will be his music, encouraging a healthier, peaceful environment, and his miss guidance when it comes to raising children and and the drive to do everything, even when it is physically and mentally impossible. I will definitely be using a lot of myth allusions. He is the king of pop, which ever be very stressful because of pressure, and i will use that for my second stanza. I might try to compare him to a different king of the past (historical or even elvis). Thirdly, I will state that his tragic flaw is addiction to painkillers and not being able to sleep. This is because of being overworked and not knowing when or how to stop. Lastly, he had been addicted to painkillers for years and he never gave up. This will be the bases of my last stanza.
ReplyDeleteis marilyn monroe considered old or "not current"? She died of an overdose but is one of Hollywood's most famous actresses.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: very educated and intelligent, hard-working, beautiful, inspirational, she started off in an orphanage and worked her way up to become a star.
Appropriateness: Very talented and beautiful, feels the pressure of the business of Hollywood...
Lifelike: Marilyn couldn't cope with the pressures of Hollywood and often turned to drugs. She became somewhat egotistical and big-headed as her stardom skyrocketed...
Consistency: She hard-working yet sometimes over ambitious, beautiful but not content with her looks(she washed her face 15 times a day)...
There are definitely more but I just wanted to see if she was a good candidate. I think she is and there are many valid reasons why she deserves an ode.
Mrs. Edwards, Worf reflects humanity in a repressed sort of way. I read through the handout and I still think I can make this work. Also, I'll include aspects of his culture in my ode for those less familiar with Star Trek.
ReplyDeleteLadies:
ReplyDelete@Emily and Skylar: Marilyn and Michael are simply mahhhvelous:) Had to go with the alliteration;) I do like your reasoning, ladies. It sounds like you have a plan:) I bet that your odes will write themselves, due to your organization and approach:)
Nicole: (yes, I spelled your name right this time;)) Thanks for the nod to my Star Trek knowledge base deficit. I did watch that show. I just don't remember enough about the Klingons. Now, tribbles... I DO remember:D
I was thinking of doing Lebron James for my ode
ReplyDeleteGoodness: talented, hard-working, yet sometimes over-confident and self-centered (myth allusions for those who believe themselves "above the gods")
Appropriateness: Is very talented and a superstar athlete, media attention and fame can go to your head, athletes almost always self-centered
Lifelike: human, tragic flaw is self-righteousness (nicknamed himself "the king")
Consistency: been this way throughout his life, drove a hummer with "king james" headrests in high school
I have more ideas but that's just my basic plans as of now
Kevin. A very organized approach! I appreciate your reasoning:) This is a good choice.
ReplyDeleteMy idea is to write an ode for Heath Ledger.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: He was a very talented actor and he recieved many awards. He was a respectful and dedicated artist too (directed a few movies)
Appropriateness: Constantly in the spotlight of Hollywood, and he felt that pressure. His family was high up in society too (established the Ledger Engineering Foundry)
Lifelike: human, he is succeptable to depression, not able to sleep well (myths about sleeping or not sleeping), makes mistakes with paparazzi
consistency: He had paparazzi/press problems throughout his career (in australia and america), dealed with depression several times
I was thinking of writing my ode about O.J Simpson
ReplyDeleteGoodness: Great athlete, had talent as an actor also, hard-working and determined but sees himself as above the law and has a strong temper
Appropriateness: He played a violent sport (football) for many years and could have taken the rage generated on the field into personal life. He was a superstar and received many breaks in his life because of athletics and believed the justice system should also release him because of his fame.
Lifelike:He falls into anger too quickly, sees himself as above society
Consistent: has had a hard time making personal relationships work (divorced two times and killed ex-wife), been in trouble wit the law even until recently (arrested in 2007 with armed robbery)
just something to work on... thanks kevin for the formatting idea ha ha
My idea is to write an ode on Michael Douglas.
ReplyDeleteHe is a very talented actor and producer. His new movie Wall Street premiered recently. He has been married to Catherine Zeta-Jones for 10 years and they hav two children. He was awarded the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. He also advocates for nuclear disarmament.
August 16, 2010 he was diagnosed with throat cancer and it was confirmed on August 31, 2010 on Letterman that it has advanced to stage 4.
He applies because he has had such a successful career and has done and supported such good causes and yet he is striken with such an unforgiving disease.
I was thinking of using Tiger Woods for my ode.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: Very talented and determined, arguably the most successful athlete of all time. Yet he has trouble controlling his temper and is selfish, acting to benefit mostly himself.
Appropriateness: He is very successful and had remained composed for years while playing one of the most nerve-racking sports. Naturally he would be self-centered and looking for various escapes from his stress.
Lifelike: His flaws are lust and controlling his frustration and ego (comparison to Zeus).
Consistent: Has been working hard and determined since he was 2 years old. Because his success started at a very young age, he has most likely always had a sense of arrogance.
I was thinking of doing Mel Gibson.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: He is very religious, good looking, is a talented actor/director,and generous (shown by his donations to multiple charities)
Appropriateness: He is extremely talented, was very popular actor at one point, and is always in spotlight and has to deal with paparazzi.
Lifelike: He’s human with his flaw of alcoholism causing many of his problems that lead to his downward spiral. Alcoholism is a “curse” that runs in his family (similar to how different houses in mythology are afflicted by a lingering curse).
Consistency: He takes responsibility for actions (like Oedipus) and continues to be religious. He has been acting for a very long time, meaning he has been under the stress of that sector of society for a long time. This constant stress may have attributed to his development of alcoholism.
I was thinking of Elvis Presley
ReplyDeleteGoodness:good looks, had talent and humor, hard-working and kind, served in the army, and built himself up from low working class. however, he became obsessed with producing albums and movies.
Appropriateness:As a singer and actor, he strived to give his fans as much performances as he could. also his talent and he used his looks to his advantage, with his money, he donated to many charities.
lifelike:His obsession with giving performance after performance and movie after movie led to his addiction to perscription drugs
Consistency:His hard-working obsession to please audiences leads to his undoing
Hi everyone. I would post to you individually,but I have a migraine at present (yuck). However, I think that everyone has good ideas. What I notice as a collective strength is that you all have a sense of balance with your choices. Obviously, you sense the "humanity" of these individuals. That is important. I am curious if you are choosing Keats as your model. With this type of approach, ordered and balanced, it would be a natural fit for your poem. Just a suggestion. If I feel better later, I will check back in:)
ReplyDeleteMy idea is to write the ode about Princess Diana.
ReplyDeleteI believe she meets Aristotle's requirements of a tragic hero very well.
Goodness: Diana's charitable acts and compassion for the people of her country demonstrate her goodness. She a beautiful, kind person who tried to do the right thing.
Appropriateness: Diana attempted to be the perfect wife, mother, and future queen for her people, and was therefore under immense pressure. She was young, beautiful, and of royal descent, making her a "perfect" bride for Prince Charles, even though he always loved another woman.
Lifelike: Diana had human flaws. She suffered from depression and bulimia in attempt to cope with the pressure and unhappiness she faced as Charles's wife. She dies tragically at a young age as she tried to get her life back under control.
Consistency: She reacted to situations consistently, in the way she knew how to handle them best. She was kind and generous, but also had a tendency towards perfectionism.
Ohhh Emily Princess Di is so good. I was thinking about doing Judy Garland (duh) because her life perfectly fits into the Aristotilian Tragic ideal.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: A great vocalist, and outstanding actress. She also was inspiring and put dreams into words with her songs. Her work has forever left an inprint onto American culture.
Appropriateness: She was an actress; she was dedicated and strived to get to the stardom that she eventually found. However she also had many lovers, like many of the stars of that era, and so was all over the place. Her voice personifies the golden age of Hollywood, and she fits into that generation flawlessly.
Lifelike: She had many addictions that would eventually cause her slow decay and death at the age of 47. However, things were somewhat out of her control, since her mother made her take anti-stress pills at a young age, which got her addicted.
Consistency: She was always looking to find solace, and peace whether that was through drugs, or men, or what have you. She was consistently talented throughout her entire life, and never ceased to stop the show.
Okay, I haven't thought through this entirely yet, but here is my idea. I'm going to do my ode on Steve Irwin because he fits a tragedy perfectly.
ReplyDeleteHe has goodness because he was dedicated to his work of making people aware of how wonderful animals are and trying to help them.
His appropriateness is that he was from Australia which has a lot of exotic animals and a unique reef. This opened the door for him to become someone who cares a lot about animals because he grew up in that environment.
He is lifelike because he wasn't perfect. People accused him of abuse for holding his daughter over an alligator. He proves that he is a person just like any other through this and sometimes does not make the wisest decisions.
His consistency is that he never stopped showing his love for animals. Up until the very end of his life, he was working to help and understand animals.
I'm going to do Pete Rose.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: He was a great baseball player, talented and hardworking. He was a huge icon in Cincinnati. He did a lot of charity work.
Appropriateness: As an athlete he was expected to perform 100% all the time. He constantly gave his best effort. He supported his team. He was expected to follow the rules of the game.
Lifelike: Pete definitely has strengths and weaknesses. He was a great athlete. His fatal flaw was his gambling addiction, causing him to be banned from baseball.
Consistency: Pete always put forth his best effort in the game. He sought to win at any cost. He has an aggressive personality.
I am going to write my ode on former Democratic Senator John Edwards of North Carolina because he is a good model of a modern tragic hero.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: He was talented at football in high school and attended Clemson University and then transferred to UNC. He graduated, with high honors, with a bachelor's degree in textile technology. He later received his J.D. from UNC School of Law. His wife Elizabeth and he founded a nonprofit organization,the Wade Edwards
Foundation, in honor of their son, who was killed in a car crash. This foundation inspires and supports young people in the pursuit of excellence. When his wife was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2004, he supported and comforted her. During his long legal career, he won many hard, noble cases for many debilitated clients. His policies as a politician have been to help reduce poverty, increase college attendance, universalize healthcare, allow illegal immigrants a pathway to legal citizenship, and to fight a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Thus, his policies have been to resolve controversial issues as well as pressing problems in America. He has tried to better America.
Appropriateness: He is intelligent and a well-educated, self-made man, who has had a successful legal and political career. He has worked hard for the duration of his career. He was a family man and a sensible, productive politician who helped address key issues in our government today. However, like many politicians, he became full of himself and conceited. This egocentric attitude and cockiness in his large stature made him think that the rules did not apply to him, and thus he committed a great scandal, which undid his successful tenure as a politician.
Likeliness: He was very intelligent, but his flaws were his insatiable lust and callousness towards the responsibility of being a politician and towards the sanctitude of marriage. Due to these two great faults, he undid his many years of being a influential lawyer and senator. In mere months, he went from being a respected man, to a man who is now scorned and considered contemptible by many Americans. He wasted everything he worked so hard for, for a fling with his mistress and former campaign worker Rielle Hunter.
Consistency: His political views and policies he worked on were of similar natures throughout his work in law and government. He had a genuine desire to help less fortunate people succeed in America. Therefore, his character was constant in his professions. His pride got the best of him in 2010, when he admitted to having an adulterous relationship with Rielle Hunter. Overall, he was an upstanding U.S. citizen, who made valuable contributions until he made one mistake of having an affair and trying to cover it up. Due to the evidence presented above, I believe John Edwards to be an exemplary model of the modern tragic hero, as he is faithful to the Aristotelian criteria.
I was thinking about writing my ode to Farrah Fawcett.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: She was a very popular actress and model. She had alot of charisma and character.
Her appropriateness: She worked in Hollywood most of her life. She pushed boundries and tried new things. She didn't want to 'get stuck' playing one role for her entire life because she wanted to grow as an actress.
Lifelike: Farrah had some questionable jobs throughout her life and often used her body as a way to get attention. She also had alot of relationship issues and never settled down with one man.
Consistancy:From the beginning of her career to the end of her life when she was diagnosed and eventually died of cancer, Farrah was energetic and showed a desire to learn and grow. She was always driven to succeed and willing to try new things.
I'm thinking of doing Britney Spears. :)
ReplyDeleteGoodness: Influence in the 90s. Attractive. She had many top-selling albums and worked her way up starting really young.
Appropriateness: She was put under the spotlight at a young age and her dedication was immense. But that was also a flaw being under so much pressure long term.
Lifelike: She had flaws including; bulimia, binge eating, and alcoholism. The Hollywood lifestyle put her on a pedestal which made her vulnerable to these addictions.
Consistency: Ever since she was a child she was involved in performing arts. And even after her personal issues she has released more music that was top of the charts.
My idea is to write an ode about John F Kennedy
ReplyDeleteGoodness: JFK started the Peace Corps, supported changes for Civil Rights, help funded NASA, war hero, but he was an elitist (God like).
Appropriateness: JFK was the President of the United States and sought to better our country.
Lifelike: JFK dedicated his life to public service, but his elitism and weakness for women were his human flaws.
Consistency: JFK always sought to help those in need, but at the same time he was selfish about his own needs.
(This is just a basic idea so far)
My Ode goes out to a student who graduated a years ago. His name is purposely not listed, but I refer to him as "Nate."
ReplyDeleteGoodness - Nate was an extremely talented, well known, popular and amiable role model to every athlete at Anderson. He dominated in sports, standing 6'7'' at 215 lbs.
Appropriateness - Nate had everything a high school boy could possibly want, until the end of his senior year when he made one fatal mistake that led to another.
Lifelike - This is a true story that happened two years ago. His main flaw was his poor decision making. In reality, any pressured star athlete is susceptible to a similar unfortunate situation, where drugs and alcohol contributed to a multitude of other problems.
Consistency - Time after time, Nate would exceed all of everyone's expectations, ranging from slam dunks to touchdown receptions. He was very talented from the beginning, and never ceased to be skillful at sports.
Most of the other information on "Nate" was not included in the post.
I was thinking of writing an ode to Kurt Cobain, but I'm not sure if he would be appropriate for the beauty aspect.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: Well known and popular lead singer/guitarist for Nirvana which redefine the sound of the 90s. However, Cobain could not cope with sudden media attention and developed a heroin addiction.
Appropriateness: Quickly rose to fame. Married Courtney Love. Sold over 50 million albums worldwide.
Lifelike: An addiction to narcotics; unable to cope with the pressures of society. Became frustrated at the thought that people did not receive the message he tried to convey.
Consistency: Growing up, Cobain had always had a deep passion for all fields of the arts. Put a lot of meaning into his songs and wanted to convey a thought-provoking message in each piece.
My Ode will be to the former Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: amazing coach, set the standard for Ohio State football (heightened the Michigan rivalry), believed in paying it forward (supported the community), turned down pay raises, taught courses
Appropriateness: passionate, stern, committed to winning, disciplinarian
Lifelike: dealt with the struggle of balancing work and family life, under a lot of pressure to have success
Consistency: He was always very devoted and passionate to the team, and in the end his passion ruined his career as a coach.
I was thinking about creating an ode to Gerard Way the lead singer in the band My Chemical Romance.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: Uses music as an outlet for pent up frustrations in his life instead of taking it out in a destructive manner. He is extremely talented and he also takes care of his family along with his career.
Appropriateness: As an innocent child he was held at gunpoint and he uses this along with other past problems to grow. Also he helps others by teaching them how to get over problems in their life through music.
Lifelike: Dealt with many of the struggles that famous people do such as alcoholism and abuse of perscription drugs. Had nowhere near a perfect life but he has grown into a fine man from these experiences.
Consistancy: He has been in the same band making generally the same type of music since 2001. He became sober in 2004 and has been since. Throughout his entire life he has always been musically and artistically inclined.
I'm probably going to do Michael J. Fox:
ReplyDeleteGood: He's known for being one of the most lovable people in Hollywood and a generally good person...no cheating, scandals, etc.
Appropriate: He rose to fame quickly (Back to the Future, of course) and seemed to have everything going for him (TV shows, blockbuster movies) then was diagnosed with Parkinson's, which compromised his promising situation.
Lifelike: He was diagnosed with a relatively common disease, and it led him to start a research foundation dedicated to finding a cure. Everyone seems to identify with his positive outlook on life in lieu of his situation.
Consistant: He's always been doing the same thing and has nearly always been seen the in the same light. He's never had a fall from grace like most celebrities, and he has always firmly supports what he believes in.
Is this okay, or should I use someone who has a flaw that comes from within their own personality?
Brigette. The flaw should come from within the person. Note the idea of tragic flaw.
ReplyDeleteChristine. Could the "beauty" be his soul as conveyed by his music? I know this band; I think there could be a case for that approach. Think it over:)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of doing Brittany Murphy as my tragic figure, I think she would be a good subject for my ode...
ReplyDeleteGoodness: Was a talented actress, who was diverse and played in many roles, a model, singer, spokesperson for different clothing brands. Overall she was diverse and made herself into a well rounded business lady.
Appropriateness: SHe has been an actress for many years, and a star in hollywood... coming out with new movies periodically
Lifelike: She struggled with weight issues, and the public watched as she withered away. There are rumors that she was addicted to cocaine. Also many public breakups. She later died of a heart attack which many doctors attribute to her drug use.
Consistancy: Her personal life did not interfere with her passion for acting and despite rumors that she was addicted to drugs, she was seen as a good role model for younger girls.
I was thinking about doing my ode on Whitney Houston.
ReplyDeleteGoodness:she was bauty-queen, has an incredible voice and decent acting skills, seemed pretty religious and moral (claimed to be a strong Christian), invested a lot of time in family
Appropriateness: made album after album and acted in several movies to gain fame; under a lot of pressure from fans, media, and family, which is common in Hollywood
Lifelike: even though she gained god-like status in Hollywood, she's suffered from several weaknesses: substance abuse and domestic abuse and low self-esteem
Consistency: throughout her career, and even through her hard times, Whitney remained humble and never stopped seeking the approval of others; she also relates with her fans in the "normal person"-like way (if that makes sense)
All I know about her I only know because of her chat with Oprah and a little skimming on the interenet, but I have a feeling she could represent tradgic beauty easily. Her beauty and natural gifts were the reason for her fame and desire for status ,which ultimately lead to her emotional, physical, and career's demise.
Hey I don't have time to write my information down but I wanted to get my Ode topic down before someone took it I am writing about Anna Nicole Smith. Will post information later.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to write my ode on Michael Hutchence.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: He was a man of peaceful motives, a talented performer(singer), and poet. He encouraged tolerance, kindness, and individuality. He was a family man, very sociable, and well traveled.
Appropriateness: His fame brought his personal life to the spotlight, broadcasting all his familial problems. Also, he was constantly exposed to drugs, drinking, and the party life as bands tend to be. His wild lifestyle was encouraged by easy access to money.
Lifelike: After he lost his sense of smell in a motorcycle accident, he became a bit more depressed. The woman he fell in love with was married, to Bob Geldof who had his own spotlight as well. They had an affair, and then she left her husband who fought to keep his children away from Paula(the woman) and Michael. This furthered Michael's depression and substance abuse. He was blind to the consequences of these drugs, and subject to love as anyone else is despite that the one he fell in love with was married.
Consistency: All throughout his life he promoted good intentions, carpe diem, being yourself and not letting the media warp your mind. Although the party lifestyle took a hard hit on him, he always encouraged people to do better than what he did.
I'll write my ode about Bill Clinton.
ReplyDeleteGoodness: He was a fantastic president, and did so much for both national and international issues.
Appropriateness: As the president of a country, Mr. Clinton had to deal with many issues. His compassion and kindness helped him solve issues among the American people.
Lifelike: Despite being a powerful man, Bill had his flaws. Like any other person, Clinton had his weaknesses. He was tempted, and foolishly acted on his urges.
Consistency: Bill Clinton has always been passionate and resourceful. Even after his presidency and scandal, Mr. Clinton has remained highly involved in national and international affairs.
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ReplyDeleteI changed mine to Tyler Durden (from Fight Club). I'm going to write it from a somwhat twisted perspective, and I'll trying not to give away the movie =].
ReplyDeleteGoodness: He was the narrator's way to escape reality and his release valve. He basically carved the narrator (who didn't have a name in the movie, for those who've never seen it) out of stone and made him stronger. He became a philosopher who was, to his followers, a god.
Appropriateness: In the movie, he became an underground legend all over the country and had power over nearly every supressed, white-collar male in every city. His flaw was that he got too confident with his ability to control. Obviously control is one of the main themes of the movie, and Tyler and the narrator continually struggle for control until Tyler becomes cocky and underestimates the narrator.
Lifelike: Everyone relates to Tyler on some level. He is who every person wants to be (confident, cool, in control of his life) and his philosophy appeals to some kind of deeper instincts within us.
Consistancy: He's like Creon. He slowly gains more and more control over the narrator's life, like Creon in Antigone (could that be an allusion?). Tyler is cool and collected right up until his downfall.
So basically, Tyler's ability to control is what others find good in him, but it eventually leads to his downfall. Like I said, this will be a little twisted, and will come from the perspective of someone who believes that Tyler IS God. And I'm going to use Keats' poems as a model for rhyme scheme and somewhat for organization.
Flint M. 6th said...
ReplyDeleteMy ode will be about Mike Tyson
Goodness: Dominated Boxing like none had done before. He Revitalized the sport and his dominance brought boxing back to the forefront. Was soft spoken and humble and spoke with actions not words.
Appropriateness: He was a Boxing legend. The most dominating champion in the history of the sport before his fall. He had numerous sponserships and was promoting all types of products and doing many shows. He was in the forefront. His life was an open book and privacy was non-existant
Lifelike: Tyson suffered from what The chorus in antigone said no man could excape and that is love. He loved Robin Williams who single handedly ruined his career with her "gold digging" antics. And his rash attitude and raging temper combined with Robin landed him in a heap of trouble
Consistancy: Even after his fall from grace he is still seen as the feared ruthless, and yet soft-spoken fighter who can knock out any opponent
Robin *givens*
ReplyDeleteI wrote my ode on Gary Coleman.
ReplyDeletegoodness- he was a succesful actor at a very young age, best known for his role in "Diff'rent Strokes" and his famous line, "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" he was very talented and well-educated.
appropriateness- many child stars live tragic lives and suffer with addiction, legal issues, financial issues, or depression. It is hard for children to be raised in the spotlight and many do not turn out well.
lifelike- Gary Coleman's short stature (he never grew taller than 4 ft 8 in) was because of a kidney disease and its treatments. He underwent a few unsuccesful transplants. After "Diff'rent Strokes" ended, Gary had many financial issues. he couldn't find any acting jobs so he became a security guard. He had a few legal struggles and battled depression.
Constitency- Gary Coleman lived off of his childhood success his entire life. he could never make peace with his fading fame, health issues, and family disputes.
My ode is on John Marston, the main character of a "wild west" type video game.
ReplyDeletePlot: John Marston, a retired outlaw formerly of a gang led by Dutch van der Linde, is taken away from his wife Abigail and his son Jack by government agents. The agents tell Marston that his family will be safely returned to him if he hunts down the remaining lead members of his former gang. Throughout the game, John recruits other outlaws and finds all the immoral and wrong ways of killing his former associates. Once he kills or captures all outlaws, the government turns on him for committing all of the unlawful deeds he did while hunting the outlaws. He dies in a shootout.
Goodness: Marston thinks he is doing what is right by killing these outlaws for the government agents, and he only wants to save his wife and son. The way he brings about the "purging" of the land, though, is not through good means, thus leading to his downfall.
Appropriateness: No longer being an outlaw and now working with the government, Marston has the double stress of being away from his family and having to turn in or kill his former friends. This leads him to make "on the spot" decisions without being able to think clearly, most of them being the wrong decision.
Lifelike: John is a very lifelike character from the early 1900's and the creators of the game took a lot of time to create this aura about him. He has strengths and weaknesses like everyone. His determination is both a strength and and a weakness because it makes him fight for the ones he loves and never give up, but it leads him down the dreaded path of revenge and, eventually, to his downfall.
Consistency: Throughout the game, John is constantly tracking down the outlaws and committing illegal acts which lead to his death. He never fails to "accidentally" shoot a civilian that is being held hostage or to kill an unarmed outlaw just to have it be over with. He is always determined, always quick-tempered, and always acts without thinking of consequences.