New York Mets left fielder Jason Bay is a character perfectly fitting of a Shakespearean tragedy.
In this style, made famous by William Shakespeare in the early-1600s, the protagonist possesses certain qualities and virtues that ultimately leads to his or her demise.
The description of a tragic hero in a Shakespearean tragedy seems awfully fitting of Bay, whose all-out, pedal to the metal efforts on defense resulted in two concussions that altered the landscape of his professional playing career.
Here's a look at five ways that Bay fits the role of the tragic hero in a Shakespearean tragedy:
1) The tragedy involves a person of high estate: Shakespearean tragedies often revolve around a high-ranking dignitary, like Roman dictator Julius Caesar or Leir of Britain in King Lear.
Since the story revolves around a high-ranking leader, their fate affects the welfare of a much wider group of people.
In comparison, Bay's fate affects the rest of the New York Mets' outfield, as well as the overall performance of the team.
2) The tragedy is unexpected and contrasted with previous happiness and glory: Jason Bay enjoyed six years of success with the Pittsburgh Pirates before elevating his game to the next level by notching 156 RBIs in his 200 games with the Boston Red Sox.
Suddenly and rather unexpectedly, Bay lost his touch and fell into a deep two-and-a-half year hitting slump with the New York Mets.
3) The tragic fate of the hero is often triggered by a tragic flaw in the hero's character: Much like King Lear's foolish vanity or the egotistical nature of Othello, Bay's tragic flaw is his beastly effort on defensive.
It's hard to rip him for giving up his body to try to make a heroic play, but awkward dives like his one on June 15 against the Cincinnati Reds, are downright dangerous. It's going to cost him games missed on the DL, which equates to millions of dollars of the Mets' money going down the tubes.
4) The main source of the problems that produce the suffering is evil in the fullest sense: In Bay's case, the "evil" he is up against appears to be Father Time.
The 33-year-old makes the New York Mets look old and sluggish when he's in the starting lineup, as he's slow on the bases and much older than most of the young prospects in the team's outfield.
5) The tragic hero undergoes a sudden reversal of fortune, which arouses strong emotional responses from the viewers: New York Mets fans have been brutal on Bay, as they booed him on 2012 Opening Day before he even took a swing.
Thankfully, the fans showed plenty of class by giving him a round of applause when he was pulled from the game on June 15 after going down with what appeared to be a concussion.
At this point, Mets fans are beyond the point of feeling angry at Bay, and seem to be feeling sorry for him. He's such a nice, warm-hearted man that it pains most Mets fans to boo him, even though it's mostly deserved due to his lack of production.
Eric Holden is a lifelong New York Mets fan. Follow him on Twitter @ericholden.
Sources
http://kilby.sac.on.ca/faculty/KRAMON/English/Grade%2010%20Files/Macbeth%20Files/Characteristics%20of%20a%20Shakespearean%20tragedy.htm, Characteristics of a Shakespearean Tragedy
