ARISTOTLES TRAGIC HERO PAPER 1 4 LITERARY CRITICISM

• ARISTOTLE'S TRAGIC HERO • PAPER 1. 4 -LITERARY CRITICISM AND THEORY • MA ENGLISH Mr. SURESH BHOSALE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

TRAGIC HERO • The idea of "Tragic Hero" was first define by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle based on his study of Greek drama. • In Chapter X||| of The Poetics. he He has spoken about his conception of Tragic Hero

DEFINATION • A tragic hero is a type a of character in a play, who makes an error, while. judging the situation. • He is the one who suffers due to some flaw in his character or due to his inevitable fate. • Whatever may be the case, a tragic hero is the most tragic personality in tragedy.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TRAGIC HERO • Hamartia • Anagnorisis • Peripeteia • Hubris • Empathy • Towering personality • Goodness • Tragic hero must die

• Characteristics of tragic hero with the example of William Shakespeare's HAMLET

l Hamartia : • It was the Aristotle who summed up some important characteristics of tragic hero in his book ''Poetics" , while discussing the tragedy. • The first characteristic Aristotle discussed in his Poetics is Hamartia means error in judgment. • It is also called a tragic flaw.

• Example of Hamartia in Hamlet • Prince Hamlet in Shakespeare's Hamlet , falls from his high position and faces his death due to his procrastinating nature.

Anagnorisis • Another characteristic that tragic hero must possess is anagnorisis. It is a Greek word which means recognition or discovery. • Aristotle used the word anagnorisis to refer to a turning point which enables the tragic hero to discover the truth about the issue.

Example of anagnorisis • Prince Hamlet's recognition that the real murderer of his uncle, Claudius, is an example of anagnorisis.

Peripeteia : • Peripeteia is another feature of a tragic hero, It means a sudden reversal of fortune or circumstances in the life of tragic hero. • Hamlet's condition suddenly change after having come to know about the real murderer of his father. • He doesn't pay heed to his beloved, Ophelia, and always thinks about killing Claudius.

Hubris • Hubris means excessive pride and arrogance that brings about the fall of a tragic • In Oedipus Rex , the tragic flaw in the character of Oedipus is hubris or excessive pride, which brings about his downfall. • When he finds the truth that he has killed his father and married his mother , he blinds himself with the brooches of his wife, Jocasta.

Empathy • Another feature that Aristotle associates with a tragic hero is empathy or pity and fear. The story of a tragic hero must arouse pity and fear in the readers. • Hamlet's conditions at the beginning the play arouse empathy in the readers when he comes to know that the real murderer of his father is his uncle. • We think for a moment how difficult it would be if one's uncle murders one's father and marry his mother.

Towering personality • An important feature of tragic hero is that he is a towering personality in his state or locality. He hails from elite stratum of society and holds high position in his state. • Tragic hero's are king, princes or military generals, who are very important for their states. Hamlet is the prince of Denmark. • When Hamlet takes revenge upon the death of his father, he not only kills his uncle but invites his own death the hands of Laertes.

Goodness • A tragic hero is an embodiment of goodness and virtue. He must be good and religious minded to such an extent that it may hinder his actions. • Hamlet's character is an excellent example in this regard. He is so good that he avoids committing suicide due to his religious nature.

Tragic hero must die • A tragic hero must die at the end of the play. A hero becomes tragic when he sacrifices his life for the sake of greater cause. • When Hamlet dies, the army of Fortinbras enters Denmark and gets control of affairs of Denmark.

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