IRA

In this book, the main character and protagonist is Alith Anar. While he is indisputably the hero of this story, he isn't what you'd typically think of as a hero. Events in his life have conspired to change his personality utterly. In this way, I believe he can be viewed as a tragic hero. He's not a tragic hero in the sense that he fails at his goals. Rather, it's what happens to him that makes him a tragic hero. The murder of his family gives birth to a dark hero. It also raises the question as to whether environment or yourself effects you the most. In Alith's case, I believe it to be both. He already has a more serious personality and is very fiercely independent, causing him to really want to fight Morathi. But I personally believe that if his entire family hadn't been murdered, he wouldn't be so committed to fighting her. Another interesting facet of this story, related to the kind of hero Alith is, is the fact that he is a character motivated by revenge, rather than altruism. In most stories, the hero does everything he does out of altruism. In Alith's case, he is primarily motivated by revenge, as well as a sense of duty. He feels that he must lead the Naggarothi because there is no other suitable prince of Nagarythe who isn't druchii. Also, Alith's character can be said to represent the lengths people can be driven to because of the events in their lives. Another primary focus in this book is religion, mainly the cults. The cults in this book follow the various cytharai, or dark gods. The most prominent cult is the cult of Kaine, Lord of Murder. The depictions of these cults and their gruesome sacrifices isn't just literal, it's also a symbol. The druchii and the acts they committ can be viewed as representitive of the darkness in all are hearts. It is also a way of seperating the druchii from the other elves.Granted, Alith's tactics seem gruesome and brutal, but in comparison they are far less horrifying acts than the followers of the cytharai have committed in the name of their "gods."