Tuesday, March 17, 2015

What modern celebrity could be compared to Achilles of The Iliad?

As I read your question, I started thinking about people
the world thinks of as "having it all" but who somehow "blew it" because of one fatal
weakness. You use the word "celebrity," so I assume this needs to be someone
recognizable as well as someone who is somehow seen as a hero.  Two men came quickly to
mind:  President Bill Clinton and Tiger Woods.


President
Clinton was arguably the most powerful man in the world when he was in office.  He had a
powerful and supportive wife, a loving daughter, and he was in the enviable position of 
being able to call any ruler of any country in the world and at least be heard.  He had
everything, including the love of the majority of the American people.  And then came
the Monica Lewinsky scandal and his eventual impeachment and censure.  What a low moment
for such a powerful man; he succumbed to his one failing--women. Clinton, of course,
recovered from this personal failing (actually many failings, since this was just the
most public incident of many) and is still beloved and sought-after by people all over
the world.


The second celebrity who had a similar failing,
though it looks different, is Tiger Woods. Arguably the best golfer who ever lived,
Tiger just seemed to have it all: money, fame, athletic ability, a lovely wife and kids,
you name it.  Then it all blew up.  His numerous extra-marital affairs became public and
he lost it all, including many of his fans and nearly all of his sponsors--and even his
stunning ability to play the game at a level no one ever has.  His inability to be
faithful to one woman was his achilles heel, and it remains to be seen whether he, like
Clinton, will recover.

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