TragedyTragedy

DefinitionDefinition

A drama in which a character (usually a A drama in which a character (usually a good and noble person of high rank) is good and noble person of high rank) is brought to a disastrous end in his or her brought to a disastrous end in his or her confrontation with a superior force confrontation with a superior force (fortune, the gods, social forces, (fortune, the gods, social forces, universal values), but also comes to universal values), but also comes to understand the meaning of his or her understand the meaning of his or her deeds and to accept an appropriate deeds and to accept an appropriate punishment. (punishment. (The Norton Introduction The Norton Introduction to Literatureto Literature, 7, 7thth ed) ed)

Tragic HeroTragic Hero

The tragic hero is a man of noble The tragic hero is a man of noble stature. He is not an ordinary man, stature. He is not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding quality but a man with outstanding quality and greatness about him. His own and greatness about him. His own destruction is for a greater cause or destruction is for a greater cause or principle. principle. (<shakespeare.learnhub.com>)(<shakespeare.learnhub.com>) ““high position” usually means a king, high position” usually means a king,

duke, prince, company owner, etc.duke, prince, company owner, etc.

Characteristics of a Characteristics of a Tragic HeroTragic Hero

According to Aristotle:According to Aristotle:1.1. Usually of noble birthUsually of noble birth

2.2. HamartiaHamartia – a.k.a. the tragic flaw that eventually – a.k.a. the tragic flaw that eventually leads to his downfall.leads to his downfall.

3.3. PeripeteiaPeripeteia – a reversal of fortune brought about – a reversal of fortune brought about by the hero’s tragic flawby the hero’s tragic flaw

4.4. His actions result in an increase of self- His actions result in an increase of self- awareness and self-knowledgeawareness and self-knowledge

5.5. The audience must feel pity and fear for this The audience must feel pity and fear for this character. character.

The “tragic flaw”The “tragic flaw”

The “flaw” in the character is a The “flaw” in the character is a defect which keeps him/her from defect which keeps him/her from being aware of the situation around being aware of the situation around him/her. The character does not him/her. The character does not understand (for much of the story) understand (for much of the story) his/her part of creating the situation.his/her part of creating the situation.

The Hero’s The Hero’s UnderstandingUnderstanding

The tragic hero has a “moment of The tragic hero has a “moment of enlightenment” near the end of the enlightenment” near the end of the story.story. He/she finally understands what he/she He/she finally understands what he/she

has done wrong—how he/she contributed has done wrong—how he/she contributed to the tragic situation.to the tragic situation.

The story often ends with the death of the The story often ends with the death of the tragic hero.tragic hero.