Tragic HeroProtagonist in a Greek

Tragedy

5 Traits of the Tragic Hero

1) High Position2) Tragic flaw

(hamartia)3) Reversal of fortune

(peripeteia)4) Recognition of

mistake (anagnorisis)5) Purgation of pity and

fear (catharsis)

1) High Position Nobility Royalty Human, but better

than the average person

Good person, but not perfect

Someone the audience likes

2) Tragic Flaw Greek term is

hamartia A character trait that

is negative Something that will

cause a problem later Most prominent trait

is hubris Excessive pride Human thinking of

himself as a god Blind arrogance

3) Reversal of Fortune Greek word is

peripeteia A person of high

position has a relatively good life

Then everything goes wrong

The reversal is caused by the hamartia

Often the reversal is a punishment from the gods for acting on the hamartia

4) Recognition of Mistake Greek word anagnorisis A change from ignorance to knowledge The tragic hero says “oops” Hero realizes that his peripeteia is his own fault because

of his hamartia Also an acceptance of fate (usually his death)

5) Purging of Pity and Fear Greek word catharsis This is felt by the audience Pity because the hero is better than we are

(high position) Fear because we do not know our fates or flaws Purging comes from the hero’s acceptance of

fate – therefore the audience comes to terms with fate by viewing the discussion of it

Audience leaves with the general feeling that life is worth living regardless of suffering or pain that is simply part of human existence