THE T

RAGIC H

ERO

ARISTOTLE’S IDEA

• Aristotle wrote about the tragedy in his book Poetics

• He has six main ideas about tragedy

• (Look for how these ideas apply towards Macbeth)

1. GREATNESS

• Tragic hero is a character of noble stature and greatness

• Occupies “high” status, but also displays nobility and nature

2. NOT PERFECT

• Although considered great, the tragic hero is not perfect

• This allows mortals (us) to relate to the tragic hero

3. DOWNFALL

• Downfall is partially hero’s own fault because of free will

• Not accidental or evil

• Tragedy is caused by an error of judgment or TRAGIC FLAW (oftentimes pride or hubris is this TRAGIC FLAW)

PUNISHMENT

• Hero’s misfortune is not fully deserved

• The punishment exceeds the crime

NOT COMPLETELY LOST

• Fall is not pure loss

• Some increase in awareness, gain in self-knowledge, discovery by the tragic hero

RESPONSE TOWARDS AUDIENCE

• Tragedy doesn’t leave audience depressed

• Aristotle: Function of tragedy is to arouse “unhealthy” emotions of pity and fear to then be cleansed by the tragic hero’s fate, or “catharsis”

SOURCE

http://vcslitonline.cc.va.us/tragedy/aristotle.htm