Drama where the central character(s) suffer disaster/great misfortune Tragedy Drama where the central character(s) suffer disaster/great misfortune

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

Tragic Hero The tragic hero is a man of noble stature. “high position” usually means a king, duke, prince, company owner, etc. He is not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding quality and greatness about him. He is good—but not “too good”—so the audience can identify with him.

Tragic Hero His own destruction is for a greater cause or principle—i.e. it proves a point. It should be noted that the hero's downfall is his own fault as a result of his own free choice, but his misfortune is not wholly deserved. Usually his death is seen as a waste of human potential.

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

Examples of Flaws Greed Obsession with one thing Mistrust Uncertainty Lack of patience Easily influenced Hesitation Selfishness Ambition

The Hero’s Understanding Aristotle: "A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall.“ The tragic hero has a “moment of enlightenment” near the end of the story. He/she finally understands what he/she has done wrong—how he/she contributed to the tragic situation. The story often ends with the death of the tragic hero. His death usually is not a pure loss, because it results in greater knowledge and awareness.

Characteristics of a Tragic Hero Summary According to Aristotle: Usually of noble birth Hamartia – a.k.a. the tragic flaw that eventually leads to his downfall; often this leads to a mistake in judgment. His actions result in an increase of self- awareness and self-knowledge…though he may not choose to act on this! A reversal of fortune brought about by the hero’s tragic flaw; this is often also influenced by “fate” or the gods. The audience must feel pity and fear for this character.

Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroes Aristotle wrote down these characteristics of a tragic hero for classical Greek tragedy plays. However, Shakespeare plays are often noted for their excellent portrayals of tragic heroes. Macbeth is an example of a principal Shakespeare character who is regarded as a tragic hero. Macbeth's fatal flaw, as seen by Aristotle, would be his lust for power (ambition).

Shakespeare’s Quirks Shakespeare often represents abnormal conditions of mind: insanity, somnambulism, hallucinations (like, perhaps, Macbeth) Shakespeare also introduces the supernatural: ghosts, witches, etc. who have supernatural knowledge

Modern Tragic Hero In the late 19th and early 20th century, a new kind of tragic hero was created. The modern hero does not necessarily have to be of a high estate, but rather an"ordinary person." The story may not result in an epiphany of awareness or even come to a resolution of catharsis. He or she may not even die! Sometimes, the new tragic hero is also known as the "anti-hero".