Tragedy

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Tragedy

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

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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)

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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 goodbut not too goodso the audience can
  identify with him.

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Tragic Hero

• His own destruction is for a greater cause or
  principlei.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.

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Characteristics of a Tragic Hero

• 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.
• Peripeteia a reversal of fortune brought about
  by the heros tragic flaw this is often also
  influenced by fate or the gods.
• His actions result in an increase of self-
  awareness and self-knowledgethough he may not
  choose to act on this!
• The audience must feel pity and fear for this
  character.

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The tragic flaw

• 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)
• Skywalker thinks he is
• so good, he can take on an
• experienced Jedi all by himself.

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Examples of Flaws

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

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The Heros 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
  wronghow 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.

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Shakespearean Tragic Plot

• Act I Exposition
• This is where the setting,
• characters, and conflicts are
• introduced.
• Act II Rising Action
• Act III Turning Point (Climax)
• This is where the reversal of fortune occurs and
  it all starts to go badly for the tragic hero.
• Act IV Falling Action
• Act V Catastrophe/Resolution
• The conflicts are resolved chaos returns to
  order.

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Shakespeares 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).

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Macbeth

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

• This is slightly different from the Aristotliean
  classical tragedies such as Oedipus Rex where the
  hero is not aware of his flaw until the very end.

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

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Its Like She Read the Classics

• In the Harry Potter series, Sirius Black and
  could be considered a tragic hero!
• Sirius Black of the Harry Potter Series, actually
  suffers from his fatal flaws several times. His
  hot headiness is what got him framed for
  murdering his best friend, cause him to serve
  several years in Azkaban.
• Who else might be a tragic hero?

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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".

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As you read

• Consider Is Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart is a
  prime example of a classical tragic hero,
• or is his tragic end more in line with the
  definition of a modern tragic hero?
• Consider these facts
• His father is a titleless debtor
• He is a man of great strength, honorand a temper
• He is later exiled because he accidentally killed
  a man
• His son leaves him for a life as a Christian and
• well, I wont spoil the ending!