Hi Katie. I think the story was tragic because here you had this man who wanted to set out and change the world for better and had it all planned out in his head but in a sense failed himself. He was so persistant and convincing that it was possible that he could be the "last great knight", that he drove himself mad over it. Yes he was happy at times and felt triumphant, but all the while he was losing touch with reality and whats real, and that is to me one of the most tragic things a person can experience.