Tragedy The Tragic Hero Tragedy Aristotle first defined

Tragedy & The Tragic Hero

Tragedy • Aristotle first defined tragedy in his book Poetics written in about 330 BC: “an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear affecting the proper purgation of these emotions”

OR in Plain English… • Tragedy is any serious and dignified drama that describes a conflict between the hero (protagonist) and a superior force (destiny, chance, society, god) and reaches a sorrowful conclusion that arouses pity or fear in the audience.

Tragedy • Tragedy deals with life’s bitterness and defeat • Involved the fall of a great man from glory to utter defeat, disgrace, and death (king, national leader, brave warrior, hero) • The suffering in these plays is largely physical and psychological

What defines a Shakespearean Tragedy • A Tragic Hero • The Tragic Flaw • Reversal of Fortune • Catharsis • Restoration of Social Order

The Tragic Hero • Someone we look up to – someone superior • Nearly perfect and we identify with him/her

Tragic Flaw • The hero is nearly perfect • The hero has one flaw or weakness

Reversal of Fortune • The fatal flaw brings the hero down from his elevated state • Renaissance audiences were familiar with the ‘wheel of fortune’ – what goes up must come down

Catharsis • The audience’s purging of emotions through pity and fear

Restoration of Social Order • The play cannot end until society is, once again, at peace.

The Tragic Hero • Tragic hero must be a person who is great and admirable in both his abilities and opportunities • He is a person so highly placed in society that his actions involve the well-being of all its members.

Characteristics the Tragic Hero • Capacity for suffering • • Suffers because he believes in what he is doing Justifies his actions even if he’s not sure if they are just Strength to endure pain inflicted No fear of death • A sense of commitment • Once the forces of the conflict are set in motion, he is committed • Vigorous protest • Doesn’t accept fate meekly • Cries out against the gods, his own weakness, the world, and the forces that placed him in jeopardy.

Characteristics the Tragic Hero • Always capable of heroic greatness • Has a tragic flaw – an interest or habit of mind that is allabsorbing and predisposes him/her in one particular direction. • The hero is placed in circumstances in which his/her tragic flaw is fatal. It eventually leads to disaster. • The hero does not fall (die) alone. • The hero’s fall makes us conscious of a feeling of waste. (What “might-have-been”) • The hero gains our sympathy and admiration, pity, awe, and terror. (catharsis)