Over a thousand years ago the Greek tragic plays centered around the struggle of a "Tragic Hero".

These tragic heroes, although subject to some alterations, had many of the same characteristics and would undergo similar situations. They had a high status in society which was destroyed when the hero experienced a fall from grace. This fall was routinely caused by a fatal flaw. After the hero's fall he would enter a period of enlightenment, where he would recognize his mistakes. Although these plays were written thousands of years ago their are still examples of real life tragic heroes. To find a modern example of a tragic hero one must look no further than the infamous Mike Tyson. Mike Tyson rose to fame not by noble birth but through knockout performances in the ring. Mike Tyson has become synonymous with the term "knockout artist". He climbed through the ranks of Heavyweight boxing through his brutal haymakers that left his opponents dazed and confused. He gave the people what they wanted, brutal entertainment. The peak of his career was when he defeated the heavy weight champion in 1986 and aquired the title "heavyweight champion". This 1986 fight was when Mike was a relatively young, 19 years old. At the peak of his career he was a household name that was regarded by many to be one of the greatest boxers of all time. He was making millions of dollars a fight. Although not born into high status, Mike Tyson definately earned a high status in society. After many years of fame, Mike Tyson experianced a hard fall from grace. Starting in 1989 Mike had begun to show signs of erratic behavior. He was involved in at least 2 street fights. He married and divorced Robin Givens after being accused of domestic violence. Although he showed some signs of erratic behavior he still was of high status. His real fall started when Mike was accused of raping Desiree Washington. This trial was inevitably going to hurt Mike's reputation regardless of the outcome. A large number of people began to dislike Tyson especially women who began to view the debocle as a trial for womens rights. The jury had little choice but to find him guilty and Tyson was sentanced to serve 3 years in a penitentury. Tyson had become deemed a rapist and his name had been diminished to the point where no amount of fights could bring him back to his old fame. Mike's next and arguably most remomorable slip up took place in the ring. He had again aquired the heavy weight title. Unfortunately for Mike, he lost in a bout against Evander Holyfeild. The knockout artis was knocked out in the 11th round. Frustrated after recieving further abatement to his name, Tyson demanded a rematch. In 1997 his wish was granted. After 2 rounds Tyson was losing badly to Holyfeild and the crowed turned on him. Mike's control withered away. Through his frustration he spit out his mouthpeice and bit a large chunk of Holyfield's ear off. After a breif stoppage the match ensued and was finally ended when Tyson bit Holyfields other ear. This was the final blow to Tyson's reputation. He was

disqualified from the match and was viewed by many to be uncontrollable. His fall from grace caused him to start using cocain; however, by the time of his second trial he had already disgraced himself. The larger than life figure had fallen awkwardly from the position he was as a 19 year old. Mike Tyson's fatal flaw was his lack of control. Tyson had always been aggresive, this is evident in the fights throughout his career. His aggresiveness found solace in the ring where it could be used productively. This agressiveness enabled him to be a great knockout fighter; however, this agression is also seen in the events that led to his fall. First evident early in his carrer when he abused his first wife. Mike was not able to control his agression and his wife was the victim. The same agression that was apparent in his first marriage is also to blame for his conviction as a rapist. As most psychologists would agree, rape is more a agressive act of dominating another person than a sexual act. This means that his agression was a driving force behind this horrible act. His final major downturn, occuring in the Holyfield fight, is another prime example of his agressiveness. After a withering away of his patience he could no longer control his anger. His anger and frustration caused him to lose sight of his actual goal resulting in Mike biting Holyfield's ear. This is naked agression that can no longer be viewed as sport because it is aimed purely at hurting another human being. Although I have stated that his agression is a driving force behind these acts, it is his lack of control not his agression that is to blame for his downfall. Although when viewed in a vacuum the events previously stated seem to be caused by Mike's agression. Upon further thought their can be no mistaking that his agression brought him to fame. One aspect of a person cannot bring them to fame and be responsible for their downfall. His lack of control or his inability to aim this agression for solely productive activities is really to blame. When Mike used his agression in the ring, the people cheered him. It was not until this agression was left without filter that a problem arised. Therefore, the only logical conclusion is that Mike's lack of control caused his ultimate downfall. This means that Mike's lack of control is his fatal flaw. Mike Tyson is different than other's who have experianced a rise and fall because he recognizes that he made a mistake. He spells this out quite clearly in an interview he did with Oprah on live television. He came clean about his first marriage and said "it was definately an abusive marriage". This statement was very difficult for Mike to make demonstrated by his immideate crying breakdown. Mike also tried to change his violent ways by being in a tv show about flying pigeons. He is one of Although boxing can be used as a good vice for the release of agression, Mike was incapable of containing it to the ring. Although some may say that it was his agression that caused his fall. this is flawed because his agression is responsible for his rise; therefore, it is his inability to control or aim

his agression that truly caused his fall. In the boxing world their is one name that is always associated with the term "knockout hutter", Mike Tyson. Mike Tyson rose to fame through his brutal knockouts in the ring, his