TragedyTragedy

Drama where the central Drama where the central character(s) suffer character(s) suffer

disaster/great misfortunedisaster/great misfortune

Definition:Definition:

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 The tragic hero is a man of

noble stature. noble stature. ““high positionhigh position”” usually means a king, usually means a king,

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

He is not an ordinary man, He is not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding but a man with outstanding quality and greatness about quality and greatness about him. him.

He is good—but not He is good—but not ““too too goodgood””—so the audience can —so the audience can identify with him.identify with him.

Tragic HeroTragic Hero

His own destruction is for a greater His own destruction is for a greater cause or principle—i.e. it proves a cause or principle—i.e. it proves a point. point.

It should be noted that the hero's It should be noted that the hero's downfall is his own fault as a result downfall is his own fault as a result of his own free choice, but his of his own free choice, but his misfortune is not wholly deserved. misfortune is not wholly deserved.

Usually his death is seen as a waste Usually his death is seen as a waste of human potential.of human potential.

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 – a.k.a. the tragic flaw tragic flaw that eventually leads that eventually leads to his downfall; often this leads to a mistake in to his downfall; often this leads to a mistake in judgment.judgment.

3.3. PeripeteiaPeripeteia – a – a reversal of fortune reversal of fortune brought about by brought about by the herothe hero’’s tragic flaw; this is often also influenced by s tragic flaw; this is often also influenced by ““fatefate”” or the gods. or the gods.

4.4. His actions result in an increase of self- awareness and His actions result in an increase of self- awareness and self-knowledge…though he may not choose to act on self-knowledge…though he may not choose to act on this!this!

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

The The ““tragic flawtragic flaw”” The The ““flawflaw”” in the character is a defect in the character is a defect

which keeps him/her from being which keeps him/her from being aware of the situation around 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.

Ex: Pride (Ex: Pride (““HubrisHubris””)) Skywalker thinks he is Skywalker thinks he is

so good, he can take on an so good, he can take on an

experienced Jedi all by himself.experienced Jedi all by himself.

Examples of FlawsExamples of Flaws GreedGreed Obsession with one thingObsession with one thing MistrustMistrust Uncertainty Uncertainty Lack of patienceLack of patience Easily influencedEasily influenced Hesitation Hesitation SelfishnessSelfishness AmbitionAmbition

The HeroThe Hero’’s s UnderstandingUnderstanding

Aristotle: "A man cannot become a hero Aristotle: "A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own until he can see the root of his own downfall.downfall.““The tragic hero has a The tragic hero has a ““moment of moment of enlightenmentenlightenment”” near the end of the story. near the end of the story.

He/she finally understands what he/she has done He/she finally understands what he/she has done wrong—how he/she contributed to the tragic wrong—how he/she contributed to the tragic situation.situation.

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

His death usually is not a pure loss, because it His death usually is not a pure loss, because it results in greater knowledge and awareness.results in greater knowledge and awareness.

Shakespearean Tragic Shakespearean Tragic PlotPlot

Act I: ExpositionAct I: Exposition This is where the setting, This is where the setting, characters, and conflicts arecharacters, and conflicts are introduced.introduced.

Act II: Rising ActionAct II: Rising Action

Act III: Turning Point (Climax)Act III: Turning Point (Climax) This is where the reversal of fortune occurs and it all This is where the reversal of fortune occurs and it all

starts to go badly for the tragic hero.starts to go badly for the tragic hero.

Act IV: Falling ActionAct IV: Falling Action

Act V: Catastrophe/ResolutionAct V: Catastrophe/Resolution The conflicts are resolved; chaos returns to order.The conflicts are resolved; chaos returns to order.

ShakespeareShakespeare’’s Tragic s Tragic HeroesHeroes

AristotleAristotle wrote down these wrote down these characteristics of a tragic hero for characteristics of a tragic hero for classical Greek tragedy plays. However, classical Greek tragedy plays. However, Shakespeare plays are often noted for Shakespeare plays are often noted for their excellent portrayals of tragic heroes.their excellent portrayals of tragic heroes.

MacbethMacbeth is an example of a principal is an example of a principal Shakespeare character who is regarded Shakespeare character who is regarded as a tragic hero. as a tragic hero. Macbeth's fatal flaw, as seen by Aristotle, Macbeth's fatal flaw, as seen by Aristotle,

would be his lust for power (ambition). would be his lust for power (ambition).

MacbethMacbeth Unlike classical tragic Unlike classical tragic

heroes, however, Macbeth heroes, however, Macbeth is well aware of his fatal is well aware of his fatal flaw from the beginning - flaw from the beginning - he constantly questions he constantly questions himself on why he himself on why he continues to delay the continues to delay the fulfillment of his desires. fulfillment of his desires.

This is slightly different from the This is slightly different from the Aristotliean classical tragedies such as Aristotliean classical tragedies such as Oedipus Rex where the hero is Oedipus Rex where the hero is notnot aware of his flaw until the very end.aware of his flaw until the very end.

ShakespeareShakespeare’’s s QuirksQuirks

Shakespeare often represents abnormal Shakespeare often represents abnormal conditions of mind: insanity, somnambulism, conditions of mind: insanity, somnambulism, hallucinations (like, perhaps, Macbeth)hallucinations (like, perhaps, Macbeth)

Shakespeare also introduces the Shakespeare also introduces the supernatural: ghosts, witches, etc. who have supernatural: ghosts, witches, etc. who have supernatural knowledgesupernatural knowledge

Shakespeare, in most of the tragedies, Shakespeare, in most of the tragedies, allows "allows "chancechance" in some form to influence " in some form to influence some of the action - e.g. the timing in some of the action - e.g. the timing in Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

ItIt’’s Like She Read the s Like She Read the Classics…Classics…

In the In the Harry PotterHarry Potter series, Sirius Black series, Sirius Black and could be considered a tragic hero!and could be considered a tragic hero!

Sirius Black of the Harry Potter Sirius Black of the Harry Potter Series, actually suffers from his fatal Series, actually suffers from his fatal flaws flaws severalseveral times. His hot headiness times. His hot headiness is what got him framed for murdering is what got him framed for murdering his best friend, cause him to serve his best friend, cause him to serve several years in Azkaban. several years in Azkaban.

Who else might be a tragic hero?Who else might be a tragic hero?

Modern Tragic HeroModern Tragic Hero In the late 19th and early 20th century, a In the late 19th and early 20th century, a

new kind of tragic hero was created. new kind of tragic hero was created. The modern hero does not necessarily The modern hero does not necessarily

have to be of a high estate, but rather have to be of a high estate, but rather an"ordinary person."an"ordinary person."

The story may not result in an epiphany of The story may not result in an epiphany of awareness or even come to a resolution of awareness or even come to a resolution of catharsis. He or she may not even die! catharsis. He or she may not even die!

Sometimes, the new tragic hero is also Sometimes, the new tragic hero is also known as the "known as the "anti-heroanti-hero".".

As you read…As you read… Consider: Is Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart is a Consider: Is Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart is a

prime example of a classical tragic hero,prime example of a classical tragic hero,

or is his tragic end more in line with the or is his tragic end more in line with the definition of a modern tragic hero? definition of a modern tragic hero?

Consider these facts:Consider these facts: His father is a titleless debtorHis father is a titleless debtor He is a man of great strength, honor…and a temperHe is a man of great strength, honor…and a temper He is later exiled because he accidentally killed a He is later exiled because he accidentally killed a

manman His son leaves him for a life as a Christian and…His son leaves him for a life as a Christian and…

……well, I wonwell, I won’’t spoil the ending!t spoil the ending!