1. The Tragic Hero What Julius Caesar, King Lear,
Bill Clinton, and Michael Vick
all have in common

2. Aristotelian Definition of Tragedy
Aristotle defined tragedy as "the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself." It incorporates "incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish the catharsis of such emotions."

3. Definition of a Tragic Hero
A tragic hero has the potential for greatness but is doomed to fail. He is trapped in a situation where he cannot win. He makes some sort of tragic flaw, and this causes his fall from greatness. Even though he is a fallen hero, he still wins a moral victory, and his spirit lives on.

4. TRAGIC HEROES ARE BORN INTO NOBILITY/BEGIN AT A HIGH STATION IN LIFE
Julius Caesar—Great Roman General
King Lear—King of Britain
Bill Clinton—governor of Arkansas, president of the United States
Michael Vick—highly celebrated quarterback

5. Tragic Heroes Are RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FATE
Julius Caesar—alienates the senators and names himself emperor for life
King Lear—no longer wants responsibility of being a king
Bill Clinton—made the decision to be unfaithful to his wife
Michael Vick—chose to sponsor dog fights

6. Tragic Heroes Are ENDOWED WITH A TRAGIC FLAW Julius Caesar—pride
King Lear—values appearances over reality
Bill Clinton—pride
Michael Vick—pride

7. Definition of a Tragic Flaw
The tragic effect will be stronger if the hero is "better than we are," in that he is of higher than ordinary moral worth. Such a man is shown as suffering a change in fortune from happiness to misery because of a mistaken act, to which he is led by his hamartia (his "effort of judgment") or, as it is often literally translated, his tragic flaw.
One common form of hamartia in Greek tragedies was hubris, that "pride" or overweening self-confidence which leads a protagonist to disregard a divine warning or to violate an important law.

8. Tragic Heroes Are DOOMED TO MAKE A SERIOUS ERROR IN JUDGEMENT
Julius Caesar—trusted Brutus and Cassius
King Lear—values Goneril and Regan’s fawning over Cordelia’s sincere love
Bill Clinton—romantically involved with an intern
Michael Vick—assumes dog fighting will not affect his football career

9. EVENTUALLY, TRAGIC HEROES
FALL FROM GREAT HEIGHTS OR HIGH ESTEEM
Julius Caesar—is murdered by his friends
King Lear—sinks into insanity
Bill Clinton—is impeached
Michael Vick—indicted by the courts, suspended by NFL

10. EVENTUALLY, TRAGIC HEROES
REALIZE THEY HAVE MADE AN IRREVERSIBLE MISTAKE
Julius Caesar—says “Et tu Brute?”
King Lear—realizes his weakness opposed to the forces of nature
Bill Clinton—publicly apologized for his indiscretions
Michael Vick—publicly apologizes for dog fighting

11. EVENTUALLY, A TRAGIC HERO
FACES AND ACCEPTS DEATH WITH HONOR
Julius Caesar—says, “Then fall Caesar”
King Lear—accepts imprisonment with Cordelia
Bill Clinton—the “death” of his integrity
Michael Vick—pleads guilty

12. EVENTUALLY, TRAGIC HEROES
MEET A TRAGIC DEATH
Julius Caesar—dies in the senate house
King Lear—dies in grief over Cordelia’s execution
Bill Clinton—ends his presidency with shame over impeachment
Michael Vick— “death” of his NFL career

13. FOR ALL TRAGIC HEROES THE AUDIENCE IS AFFECTED BY PITY and/or FEAR
The tragic hero reminds us of the flaws in ourselves and forces us to examine how we deal with our lives.
We fear the same fate.

14. Good or Evil?
The tragic hero will most effectively evoke both our pity and terror if he is neither thoroughly good nor thoroughly evil but a combination of both.

15. Reflection How do each of these tragic heroes evoke our pity and fear?
How do they display both good and evil characteristics?
Julius Caesar
King Lear
Bill Clinton
Michael Vick