8/3/2019 Definition of Tragedy and Tragic Hero SP11

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Reading assignment – read by Monday, February 7 th, 2011

Spring 2011 Introduction to Theatre

Susanna Rinehart

Aristotle’s Definition of Tragedy:

Aristotle said that the “tragic vision” conceives of human beings as being capable of transcendent

greatness and abject (complete) defeat at one and the same time. Human beings, then, can be bothvulnerable and invincible at the same moment. This seems like it is a contradiction, like it is

impossible – given that invincible and vulnerable are exact opposites of one another.

However, that is exactly what Aristotle was getting at. Often, in our moments of greatest triumph and

courage, we are also at our most mortal and vulnerable. Perhaps we are physically vulnerable and

defeated in a certain moment; but our courage, our spirit lives beyond our struggle. Think of someone

like Martin Luther King, Jr. He was literally vulnerable and was defeated (assassinated); however, hewas “transcendently great” and “invincible” in that his struggle and what he fought for lived long after 

he died.

Think of other examples of tragic heroes who fit Aristotle’s definition of greatness and defeat/

invincibility and vulnerability.

Aristotle’s definition of the tragic hero, tragic flaw, and tragic realization:

Aristotle defined the tragic hero as “someone who, alone and of his/her own free will, pits himself 

against an external force, struggles, suffers, and is defeated.”

 Note the irony of the fact that this person is called a “hero”, but is also destined to fail, to be defeated.

In what way is someone still heroic, even if they are defeated in their struggle?

Aristotle also said that every tragic hero must have a “tragic flaw” – what Aristotle called “hamartia” – 

meaning some character trait that is excessive or out of balance, and which causes the hero’s defeat.The idea here is that the character trait is not in and of itself a bad trait. It is its excessiveness that

makes it a flaw. Excessive pride, excessive naiveté, excessive belief or trust, excessive love, etc. etc.

Lastly, Aristotle said that there is always a moment of “tragic realization” in a tragedy – the moment

when it becomes clear what is the cause of the defeat or downfall of the tragic hero. Aristotle said that

although there is always a moment of tragic realization, there are two very different ways it can

happen:

1) The tragic hero himself has the realization – the moment (often at the moment of his defeat) when

he realizes the enormity of what has happened to him.

2) The tragic hero dies or is defeated without ever coming to understand why or how, but the audience

does see – the audience has the tragic realization, not the hero.