Aristotle’s Tragic Hero(from his book of literary theory entitled, Poetics ca. 335 BC)

1) A noble character

2) The hero’s downfall is not the result of villainy, but triggered by an error of judgment or the hero’s lack of perfection. This error or flaw is known as “hamartia” (some scholars argue that “tragic flaw” is a mistranslation of hamartia.)

3) The hero’s misfortune is not wholly deserved. The punishment exceeds the “crime”.

4) The fall is not pure loss. The hero may experience an increase in awareness, or gain in self-knowledge.

5) Though it arouses solemn emotion, tragedy should not leave its audience depressed. Aristotle argues that watching the tragic hero’s terrible fate, our “unhealthy” emotions of fear and pity are aroused, causing a catharsis, or cleansing of those emotions.