Some of the characteristics of a tragic hero include greatness, a weakness or a flaw, an undeserved fate, and a punishment exceeding the deed committed. Jay Gatsby encompasses all of these characteristics as a tragic hero. The most tragic of the three protagonists studied is Jay Gatsby because all he wanted was to be loved by Daisy, although, there were few who actually liked him, and his fate was ill timed and one his actions were not deserving of. There are many characteristics that identify Jay Gatsby as a tragic hero. Some of the characteristics of a tragic hero include greatness, a weakness or a flaw, an undeserved fate, and a punishment exceeding the deed committed.
In Arthur Miller’s more complex world, a more complex tragic hero is needed. Indeed, a more complex hero is needed because Arthur Miller is also telling of his own tragic struggle through John Proctor. Aristotle gives four basic characteristics of a tragic hero: nobleness of birth, a tragic flaw, the hero’s downfall, and the anagnorisis, or the realization by the protagonist that his downfall was his own doing. There are other accepted requirements as well, such as the hero suffering more than he
Oedipus Rex as a Tragic Hero One may think that they have it rough. Little do they know that one’s problems can seem so small compared to someone as significant as a tragic hero. Oedipus had to go through a lot and contradict himself and judge himself, then come to accept himself to become the hero we know him as today. Oedipus Rex is a person of great promise, ability and integrity, which makes his a tragic hero. He shows this by being proactive in moving away from his father Polybus, a Dorian, and his mother Merope, of Corinth.
These characters have what it truly means to be a tragic hero in the past. They both possess the qualities, according to Aristotle, of a tragic hero. They are both born of noble birth, and the audience feels pity on these characters. They also both have Peripeteia, defined as a reversal of fortune brought about by the hero’s tragic flaw. Hamlet’s tragic flaw was him waiting too long to kill Claudius and in doing so, everyone died including Hamlet.
Hiral Patel 10-15-11 English H Tragic Hero In the play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, John Proctor fits the classic Greek definition of a tragic hero. Aristotle defined a tragic hero as a noble person that goes from a state of fortune and happiness to a state of utter misery. The character’s tragic flaw causes this change. He also stated that witnessing the downfall of the character triggered an emotional release, which left the audience feeling relieved because they have empathized with the character, but not upset because the downfall was the character’s own doing. John Proctor is a strong character that represents these qualities.
A tragic hero is a man of noble character who dies because of the decisions he has made, even if the hero’s misfortune was not completely deserved. One of Brutus' tragic flaws is that he does not have a good judge of character, and he ends up trusting Cassius and joining the Conspirators. Elements that make Brutus the tragic hero are his fall resulting from what Aristotle calls “an act of injustice” (hamartia), his downfall is his own fault resulting from his choices, and was defeated but dared greatly and becomes an example for others. Brutus tragic hero of Julius Caesar displays hamartia, he commits a crime acting out of the best intentions, which in this scenario results from mistaken judgment and will make him fall from his grand stature. One of the multiple examples is shown when Brutus and Portia, his wife, were having a conversation after the conspirators left their house.
These wrong decisions land Eddie with failed relationships with those who are close to him. Dramatic tension escalates continuously in act two ending with Eddie's fatal flaw, his own death. Eddie's death is fatal because it affects his family who care about him and they suffer as a result. Eddie is described as a tragic hero as he is an ordinary person, as opposed to a modern hero, who is stereotyped as a strong character, able to save the world. Eddie suffers as his happiness turns to misery because of his mistakes prompted by his harmartia.
5) The character's fate must be greater than deserved. Initially, the tragic hero should be neither better nor worse morally than normal people, in order to allow the audience to identify with them. This also introduces pity and catharsis, which is crucial in tragedy. Eventually the Aristotelian tragic hero dies a tragic death, having fallen from great
Aristotle’s definition of tragedy is “Tragedy is a story taking the hero from happiness to misery because of a fatal flaw or mistake on his part. To be a true tragic hero he must also elicit a strong emotional response of pity and fear from the audience.” (Aristotle) Creon fits perfectly into this description of a tragic hero.There have been many controversies regarding the true nature of Creon in the play “Antigone” by Anouilh.In this essay of mine, we shall perceive Creon as a noble man rather than an arrogant tyrant.In my view,Creon was the protagonist while Antigone was undoubtedly the antagonist, the cause of the whole tragedy who caused her own downfall as well as the downfall of Haemon and Eurydice courtesy of her obnoxious and immature behaviour. To prove my point here, I shall start with the fact that Creon hadn’t desired power.He was a patron of art, a lover of music, an idealist. This had been stated by the Chorus in the Prologue. This throne had been forced upon him by the circumstances after the death of Eteocles.
Since the days of Aristotle, the concept of a tragic hero has been a part of storytelling and literature. A tragic, or romantic, hero is someone who begins at a noble position, but has a tragic flaw that ultimately leads to the character’s demise. Often, this character realizes this flaw, but not before it is too late. In Shakespeare’s tragic play, Othello, the title character is a romantic hero. His rapid downfall is a result of his passionate love, so intense that it greatly hinders his rational thought.