Each model has five defining characteristics, which are nobility, hamartia, downfall, anagnorisis, and suffering. In the Shakespearean model of tragedy, the play Romeo and Juliet best models the tragic hero. For instance, nobility is characterized by being upper class and having elevated character. Romeo satisfies both these criteria through his position as the son of the Montagues’, a wealthy family in Verona, and he was even described as a gentlemen by his family’s enemy. In addition, Romeo’s hamartia, or his fatal error that ultimately brings his doom, lies in his impulsive actions, which drives him to kill Tybalt, Paris, and eventually himself.
Typically, a tragic hero is a figure of high stature, often of noble background. This person is predominantly good, but suffers a self-inflicted falling out due to flaws in their personality. The tragic hero has a tremendous downfall, brought about by their hamartia. The character reaches an anagnorisis, a critical discovery that completely alters the predicament they are in,
The tragic hero is a literary device used to show the flaws of human nature; however this model can also pertain to real-life individuals in our society. For example, a Shakespearean tragic hero in real-life would be Robin Williams, a famous comedian who was adored by all. Essentially, nobility is distinguished by being upper class and having elevated character. In Robin Williams’ case he satisfies both specifications; as a child Williams grew up in a rich family and he obtained respect and notoriety by making others joyful . Additionally, Williams hamartia, or his fatal error that ultimately brings about his doom, lies in the depression that he struggles with his entire life.
Aristotle also felt the best type of a tragic hero will fall somewhere between the two extremes - “... a person who is neither perfect in virtue and justice, nor one who falls into misfortune through vice and depravity, but rather, one who succumbs through some miscalculation.” According to Aristotle the characteristics of a tragic hero are to provoke sad emotions, such as pity or fear, from the audience. When these sad emotions are provoked from the audience, it is hoped that after seeing the tragic hero leading themselves to downfall or death it will transform the audience into good human beings. The characteristics of a tragic hero are shown through Blanche in the play A Streetcar Named Desire, showing tragic flaws. Hamartia is when a tragic flaw causes downfall for a hero. Blanche represented hamartia in many ways which can include of her compulsive lying, creating a fantasy for herself and others, drinking antisocially, and her inability to be independent.
Also, the main character had to be a high-ranking or dignified person with a tragic flaw that caused their downfall. Finally, the work had to end with the death of the main character. These elements are all clearly seen in Shakespeare’s play, but the elements that create a tragic hero are not as obvious. To be categorized as a tragic hero, the character must have been physically or spiritually wounded resulting in their death, be a king or a leader of men that resulted in their followers falling with them, must learn something from their mistake, be faced with a serious decision, and, oftentimes, have supernatural involvement. Based on these traits, there are multiple tragic heroes in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar.
A tragic hero is somebody that makes a design or has a flaw in how they act that will lead to their destruction. The play Romeo and Juliet is one of the greatest known plays know in the history of playwriting like many of Shakespeare 's plays this one is a tragedy. With all tragedies, there is a tragic hero, in this story this person is Romeo. In this play Romeo is the tragic hero because he fits all of the criteria of a tragic, hero, his flaws lead to his destruction some of those being emotionally driven, he is impulsive and immature. The first reason why Romeo is a tragic hero is that he is emotionally driven.
An example of a tragic hero is Oedipus from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. A tragic hero, according to Aristotle, is usually noble by birth, has hamaria, has peripeteia, his actions usually result in self awareness, and the audience feels pity or fear for him. A more modern tragic hero would be a man of noble stature or is extraordinary, good but not too good, his destruction proves a point, and his downfall is his own fault but also his own choice. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the protagonist,
The fall from heroism into villainy is a substantial fall. A tragic hero is someone who is typically an exceptional human being who has ordinary qualities in their personality, however they have a tragic flaw that leads to their downfall. Though the most accurate description of a tragic hero seems to be Aristotle´s, “A literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction”. This seems to be the most accurate definition to compare to a character in a story like Macbeth. Macbeth is the main character in Macbeth, a tragedy by William Shakespeare.
Once her father hears these accusations, he commands to “let her die” as a result of the crimes she committed (IV.i.163). These incidents in the play illustrate Hero’s sacrifice of her angelic and pure character. Hero does little to convince others of her innocence. Moreover, clinging to the traditional views of women, men are unlikely to listen to what women have to say. Shakespeare portrays women 's ranking in relation to men by illustrating Hero’s great sacrifice, and how her closest mentors refuse to help support her.
One such philosopher is Aristotle. His concepts of the Tragic hero is articulate and shed more light on what the modern - day literature laureates define as the tragic hero. To begin with, Aristotle gives a very comprehensive understanding of who a tragic hero character in plays. He asserts that the real and ideal tragic hero is the one charged with the mandate of making the audience feel a catharsis at the end of the play and make the audience experience cleansing sessions after watching or reading a play. The catharsis experienced by the audience is as a result of the twist and turns of the protagonist trying to do well.