![]() She had wandered, without rule or guidance, into a moral wilderness… Her intellect and heart had their home, as it were, in desert places, where she roamed as freely as the wild Indian in his woods… The scarlet letter was her passport into regions where other women dared not tread. Here are some examples of tragic hero in literature: Example 1: Hester Prynne ( The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne) Many great works of literature feature tragic hero as a literary device. Overall, a tragic hero must possess hamartia. For example, hubris is a common tragic flaw in that its nature is excessive pride and even defiance of the gods in Greek tragedy. Hamartia, sometimes known as tragic flaw, is a fault or failing withing a character that leads to their downfall. Here are some ways that writers carefully incorporate tragic hero into their work: Hamartia ![]() Additionally, all tragic heroes must experience a downfall leading to some form of ruin as a result of a tragic flaw in their character. However, all tragic heroes must have sympathy from the audience for their circumstances. They may even be somewhat villainous in nature. In addition, a modern tragic hero may not necessarily possess typical or conventional heroic qualities. The characteristics of the tragic hero have evolved since Aristotle’s time in the sense that they are not limited to nobility or the male gender. Overall, as a literary device, the tragic hero functions as the main character or protagonist of a tragedy. Therefore, their downfall is deserved and due entirely to their choices and devices. Though anti-heroes may do good things for wrong reasons, they are fundamentally flawed and their actions serve only themselves. However, as a character, the anti-hero still has an audience’s sympathy. The anti-hero may be deficient in characteristics such as courage or integrity. However, unlike a tragic hero, an anti-hero is lacking in virtues associated with heroism. As a result, these elements work together to generate a sympathetic response from the audience for tragic heroes.Īn anti-hero is also a protagonist in fiction. Finally, a tragic hero should suffer a reversal of fortune from good to bad, often leading to death or punishment that appears to be greater than deserved. In addition, tragic heroes must possess some sort of tragic flaw as part of their internal make-up or nature that makes them at least partially responsible for their own destruction. Essentially, for a character to be a tragic hero, they must have some initial virtue that makes them powerful, charismatic, or heroic in the minds of the audience. But unlike most tragic heroes, Oedipus bears no responsibility for his tragic flaw (which is that he does not know his true identity).It can be difficult to distinguish between tragic hero and anti-hero in literary works. One of the most iconic tragic hero examples is Oedipus Rex. From the dawn of film to the newest, most cutting edge blockbusters, we’ve seen the demise of many a protagonist. Tragic heroes aren’t just in stage plays. Tragic Hero Examples Classic and modern tragic heroes Humans are flawed, and using these three tools to build your hero and their journey can ensure your catharsis truly packs a punch. These story-telling devices are timeless because audiences can find themselves within the framework of a tragic hero’s narrative. This is a critical point for your hero, as they have gained insight regarding their true identity or actions and forever changes them. Anagnorisis is the hero’s recognition.Often referred to as a reversal of fortune, peripeteia is the turning point brought about by the hero’s flaw. Peripeteia is the reversal of circumstances.It is often a blatant character trait, like hubris. Coming from the Greek word meaning “to err,” it is a flaw form within the character themselves. Hamartia is the tragic flaw which leads to the hero’s downfall.Your hero’s flaws are intrinsically linked to what Aristotle believed to be three pillars of tragedy: hamartia, peripeteia, and anagnorisis. Their fatal flaw leads to some kind of realizationĪny combination of these can still qualify your hero as tragic, especially if you maintain the fundamental idea of these traits: your character is flawed, though perhaps also virtuous, and still meets failure, death, or at least suffering.They have been wounded by some traumatic experience.With some kind of imperfection that makes them human and relatable.Similarly, there are basic tragic hero characteristics that we’ve come to associate with some of our favorite heroes, of which there are six: It’s likely much of Aristotle’s basic elements of theater or story feel pretty familiar to you.
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