Based on the graphic novel by. Road to Perdition is like a Greek tragedy, dealing out remorseless fates for all the characters. Some tragedies, like Hamlet, are exhilarating, because we have little idea how quirks of character will bring about the final doom. But the impact of Greek tragedy seems muted to me, because it's preordained.
arÂ·duÂ·ous. adj. 1. Demanding great effort or labor; difficult: the arduous work of preparing a Dictionary of the English Language (Thomas Macaulay). 2. Testing severely the powers of endurance; strenuous: a long, arduous, and exhausting war. 3. Hard to traverse, climb, or surmount. [From Latin.
Historical Examples. 1  Every thought was bent to attain the end, no labour was deemed to arduous. 2  How arduous and delicate they were may be readily understood. 3  In the Winter of 1841, his duties were most trying and arduous. 4  It is I, not she, at this rate, that must fail in the arduous trial. Clarissa, Volume 3 (of 9) Samuel Richardson Engage not in so arduous and important an enterprise immaturely.