Beethoven continuing to compose even after becoming completely deaf is one of the most well known legends in music. To many it signifies just how genius the man was, his work remained just as good as ever, yet he could not hear a single note. His music didn't stay the same however, for an artist's greatest hope is to overcome adversity by channeling it through there works, Beethoven went on to do just that. A good example of this would be in the piece "The Eroica", critics have connected this piece with a sense of heroism in conquering one's misfortunes. The symphony begins in a sort of standard fashion, which then transitions into a sort of slow emotional second movement (representing to some despair in the face of conflict), only to be whisked into an outpouring of creative energy in the third and fourth movements. It is pieces like this that, to many, indicate the sort of state of mind Beethoven found himself in. It is utterly tragic to lose what is considered a musicians greatest tool, and yet Ludwig Van Beethoven overcame his disability and continued to write some of his most inspired pieces to date.