A tragic hero is a literary archetype that refers to a character who is of noble birth or high social standing, but also has a tragic flaw that ultimately leads to their downfall.
The tragic hero’s downfall is usually brought about by a combination of their own actions and external circumstances.
Tragic heroes are often depicted as complex characters who are neither entirely good nor entirely evil. They possess both positive and negative qualities, and their downfall is typically the result of a fatal flaw or error in judgment.
Examples of tragic heroes in literature include:
Oedipus in Sophocles’ play “Oedipus Rex” – A king who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother.
He is a tragic hero because of his noble intentions and his desire to uncover the truth, but his tragic flaw is his arrogance and his belief that he can control his own fate.
Romeo in Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet” – A young man who is deeply in love with Juliet, but his tragic flaw is his impulsiveness and his inability to control his emotions.
His tragic end is brought about by a series of tragic events and his own mistakes.
Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby” – A self-made man who rises from humble beginnings to become wealthy, Gatsby’s tragic flaw is his boundless and unrealistic hope that he can win back his lost love, Daisy.
His tragic end is brought about by his own actions, as well as external circumstances that he cannot control.
Characteristics of a tragic hero include:
A noble birth or high social standing
A tragic flaw or error in judgment
A descent into suffering, usually brought about by a combination of their own actions and external circumstances
An awareness of their own tragic fate
A demonstration of remorse or regret for their actions
A sense of catharsis for the audience.
It is also important to note that the concept of the tragic hero has evolved over time and different cultures have different interpretations and examples of tragic heroes.
What Is A Tragic Hero?
A tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to their own destruction, often taking others down with them.
The character typically has a tragic flaw, which is a personality trait that leads to their downfall.
They are usually of noble birth and have a high social status. They also evoke both sympathy and fear from the audience.
Examples of tragic heroes include Oedipus in “Oedipus Rex” and Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet.”
Tragic Hero Examples
Some examples of tragic heroes in literature include:
Oedipus in Sophocles’ play “Oedipus Rex” – Oedipus is the king of Thebes and is determined to find the murderer of his predecessor, King Laius.
In doing so, he eventually discovers that he himself is the murderer, and that he is also the son of Laius and his wife Jocasta, whom he unknowingly married. This realization leads to his downfall.
Romeo in Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet” – Romeo is a young man from the Montague family who falls in love with Juliet, a member of the rival Capulet family.
He makes the impulsive decision to kill Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, in a fit of rage, which leads to a chain of events that ultimately results in the deaths of both Romeo and Juliet.
Macbeth in Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth” – Macbeth is a Scottish nobleman who is driven by ambition and the prophecy of three witches to murder King Duncan and take the throne for himself.
He becomes consumed by guilt and paranoia, leading to the destruction of himself and those around him.
Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s play “Death of a Salesman” – Willy is a 60-year-old salesman who is struggling to make ends meet. He clings to the belief that he is a success and that his sons will follow in his footsteps.
His obsession with the American Dream leads to his downfall as he realizes that his life is a failure.
Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby” – Gatsby is a wealthy man who throws extravagant parties and spends his fortune in pursuit of Daisy, his former lover.
His blind pursuit of love and his inability to let go of the past leads to his downfall.
What Makes A Hero Tragic?
A tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to their own destruction, often taking others down with them. There are a few key elements that make a hero tragic:
Tragic Flaw: The character typically has a tragic flaw, which is a personality trait that leads to their downfall. This could be hubris, excessive ambition, or a lack of self-awareness.
High Status: The tragic hero is usually of noble birth and has a high social status. This adds to the audience’s sense of their fall being all the more tragic.
Emotional Resonance: The tragic hero evokes both sympathy and fear from the audience. The audience may relate to the character’s struggles and feel empathy for their fate, while also recognizing the destructive nature of their actions.
Downfall: The tragic hero’s downfall is the result of their own actions, rather than external circumstances. They bring about their own ruin through their choices and mistakes.
Catharsis: The audience experiences catharsis, a feeling of emotional release, as they witness the tragic hero’s downfall.
Arouses Pity and fear: The tragic hero’s downfall is a result of a combination of fate and free will and the audience is left with the sense of pity and fear that the hero’s fate could have been avoided if the hero had made different choices.
Tragic Hero Characteristics
Tragic heroes generally possess the following characteristics:
High social status: The tragic hero is usually of noble birth and has a high social status. This makes their downfall all the more tragic.
Tragic flaw: The character typically has a tragic flaw, which is a personality trait that leads to their downfall. This could be hubris, excessive ambition, or a lack of self-awareness.
Good intentions: The tragic hero generally has good intentions, but their actions are ultimately flawed and lead to their downfall.
Self-awareness: The tragic hero is aware of their own limitations and flaws, but they are unable to overcome them.
Moral ambiguity: The tragic hero may have both good and bad qualities and their actions may evoke both sympathy and condemnation from the audience.
A reversal of fortune: The tragic hero often experiences a reversal of fortune, going from a position of power or success to one of downfall and despair.
Catharsis: The tragic hero’s downfall evokes feelings of catharsis, a sense of emotional release in the audience.
Evokes both sympathy and fear from the audience: The audience may relate to the character’s struggles and feel empathy for their fate, while also recognizing the destructive nature of their actions.
Tragedy Lessons From Aristotle
Aristotle’s Poetics is a seminal work on the nature of tragedy and its role in literature. In it, Aristotle outlines several key principles for what makes a tragic story effective. Some of the main lessons about tragedy from Aristotle include:
Tragedy should evoke feelings of pity and fear: Aristotle believed that tragedy should elicit strong emotional reactions from the audience. The audience should feel pity for the tragic hero and fear that they themselves could suffer a similar fate.
Tragedy should have a clear plot structure: Aristotle believed that a well-constructed plot is essential to a tragic story. The plot should be clear, with a beginning, middle, and end, and the events should be logical and causally linked.
Tragedy should have a tragic hero: Aristotle believed that a tragic story should have a central character, the tragic hero, who possesses a tragic flaw that leads to their downfall. The tragic hero should be of high status and evoke both sympathy and fear from the audience.
Tragedy should have a cathartic effect: Aristotle believed that tragedy should have a cathartic effect on the audience, allowing them to release their emotions and purify themselves.
Tragedy should teach a moral lesson: Aristotle believed that tragedy should convey a moral lesson to the audience. The tragic hero’s downfall should serve as a cautionary tale, warning the audience of the dangers of hubris, excessive ambition, or a lack of self-awareness.
Tragedy should be a representation of human nature: Aristotle believed that tragedy should reflect human nature as it is, not as it ought to be. Tragedy should be a representation of the human experience and should be able to be relatable to the audience.
Three Pillars Of Tragedy
The three pillars of tragedy, as first identified by Aristotle in his work “Poetics,” are:
Plot: The structure and organization of the events in the story, including the climax and resolution.
Character: The personalities and motivations of the characters in the story, including the protagonist and antagonist.
Diction: The language and style used in the story, including imagery, metaphor, and rhetorical devices.
These three pillars work together to create a dramatic and emotionally powerful story that evokes fear and pity in the audience.
Classic And Modern Tragic Heroes
Classic tragic heroes are characters from literature written in ancient Greece and Rome, and during the Renaissance, who possess admirable qualities but also have a tragic flaw that leads to their downfall.
Examples of classic tragic heroes include Oedipus from Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex,” Hamlet from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” and Willy Loman from Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman.”
Modern tragic heroes, on the other hand, are characters from literature written in the 20th century and beyond who possess admirable qualities but also have a tragic flaw that leads to their downfall.
Examples of modern tragic heroes include Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” Holden Caulfield from J.D. Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye,” and Okonkwo from Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart.”
Both classic and modern tragic heroes share the same structure, which is a character of high status and admirable qualities, but with a tragic flaw that ultimately leads to their downfall.
However, the difference is that the classic tragic heroes are often portrayed in a more grandiose way, and their tragedies have a more profound impact on the society, while the modern tragic heroes are often more relatable and their tragedies have a more personal impact.
What Is A Tragic Hero – Oedipus Rex
In Sophocles’ play “Oedipus Rex,” Oedipus is the protagonist and tragic hero. He is the King of Thebes, who is known for his intelligence, determination, and leadership.
He is initially respected and admired by the citizens of Thebes for his role in solving the Sphinx’s riddle and freeing the city from its curse.
However, Oedipus also has a tragic flaw, which is his pride and stubbornness.
He refuses to believe that he could be responsible for the murder of the previous king, Laius, and is determined to find the killer, even though the oracle has already warned him that he is the one who will bring about the city’s ruin.
As the play progresses, Oedipus begins to uncover the truth about his past and the prophecy, and realizes that he has unknowingly fulfilled it. He has killed his father, Laius, and married his mother, Jocasta.
This revelation leads to a tragic reversal of fortune for Oedipus, as he loses his kingdom, his family and his reputation. He blinds himself in a fit of shame and despair, and goes into exile.
In conclusion, Oedipus is a classic example of a tragic hero, as he possesses admirable qualities, but also has a tragic flaw, which leads to his downfall.
His downfall is not just a personal tragedy but also a tragedy for the city of Thebes and the people he has led.
Mad Men’s Don Draper As Tragic Hero
In the TV series “Mad Men,” the main character Don Draper can be seen as a tragic hero. He is initially portrayed as a successful and charismatic advertising executive, who is respected by his peers and clients.
He is a man with a dark past, including having changed his identity and running away from his family, which makes his story more complex and interesting.
Don’s tragic flaw is his inability to connect with others emotionally and his constant search for identity.
He is deeply unhappy and unfulfilled, despite his professional success and outwardly perfect image.
Throughout the series, Don struggles with alcoholism, infidelity, and existential crises, which lead to the deterioration of his personal and professional life.
His tragic flaw is also shown in his professional life, as he is unable to sustain the professional and personal relationships he establishes with his clients and colleagues.
His behavior and lack of emotional intelligence causes him to lose his job, his reputation and his family.
Don’s tragic flaw is his inability to connect with others emotionally and be honest with himself, which leads to his downfall.
His downfall is not only a personal tragedy but also a professional one, as his actions have a ripple effect on the people around him and the industry he is a part of.
What Is a Tragic Hero – Wrapping Up
A tragic hero is a literary character who is typically of noble birth and possesses admirable qualities, but also has a tragic flaw, which leads to their downfall.
The tragic flaw, also known as hamartia, is a characteristic or behavior that ultimately leads to the hero’s downfall.
The hero’s tragic flaw is usually a moral or psychological weakness, such as pride, ambition, jealousy, or hubris. The tragic hero’s downfall is usually brought about by a combination of fate and their own actions.
The tragic hero’s downfall evokes emotions of fear and pity in the audience, as they witness the hero’s fall from grace, and they also recognize the hero’s humanity, as they see the hero’s vulnerability and flaws.
The audience may also identify with the hero’s struggles and relate to their own experiences.
Examples of tragic heroes include Oedipus from Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex,” Hamlet from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” Willy Loman from Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman,” Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” Okonkwo from Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart” and Don Draper from “Mad Men”.
