The rise of Ludwig van Beethoven into the ranks of history's greatest composers was paralleled by and in some ways a consequence of his own personal tragedy and despair. Beginning in the late 1790's, the increasing buzzing and humming in his ears sent Beethoven into a panic, searching for a cure from doctor to doctor. By October 1802 he had written the Heiligenstadt Testament confessing the certainty of his growing deafness, his consequent despair, and suicidal …showed first 75 words of 1486 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1486 total…a soul set to despair and futility. At the same time however, despite the looming impossibility of recovery, his ambition to fully realize his musical talent set him to establish a new milestone in musical history -- the creation of the heroic style. Symbolizing struggle, the resistance of morality to suffering, and the triumph over despair, we can see how the heroism of Beethoven's music reflected his own struggles with fate and his own triumphs.