Aristotle’s Concept of Tragic Hero

Q. Discuss Aristotle’s concept of the tragic hero.

Tragic Hero

Aristotle’s concept of the tragic hero comes from his work Poetics. A tragic hero is a character of noble birth or high social standing. This character is neither entirely good nor evil but has a mix of strengths and flaws.

One key flaw, called hamartia, leads to their downfall. This flaw is often a mistake or error in judgment, not always a deeply immoral act. As a result of this flaw, the hero faces a sudden reversal of fortune, known as peripeteia, where their life changes from good to bad.

The hero eventually experiences anagnorisis, a moment of realization. They understand the true nature of their situation and how their own choices led to their downfall.

However, this understanding often comes too late to prevent their fate. The audience feels pity for the hero’s suffering and fear because it could happen to anyone. These feelings are released through a process called catharsis, which provides emotional relief and reflection.

Aristotle’s tragic hero is trapped between fate and free will. While their fall seems destined, it is also caused by their actions. This mix of personal responsibility and unavoidable fate makes the tragic hero’s story both powerful and meaningful.

Characteristics of Tragic Hero/Character

Aristotle has defined 4 basic characteristics of a tragic hero/character:

• Goodness
• Appropriateness
• Likeness
• Consistency

1- Goodness

In Aristotle’s view, the tragic hero should be fundamentally good. This goodness is not about flawlessness but about having morally sound intentions and actions that generally indicate virtue.

The tragic hero is inherently good. This quality isn’t about perfection but portrays the hero as someone with noble qualities, making their downfall more tragic and emotionally stirring for the audience.

This characteristic is crucial because it makes the audience empathize with the hero and feel more invested in their journey and downfall. Aristotle emphasizes that the tragic hero’s goodness should make their eventual fate more tragic and not something they deserve due to evil or immoral traits.

“The character between these extremes is a person not pre-eminently virtuous and just, whose misfortune, however, is brought upon him not by vice or depravity but by some error of judgment…”

2- Appropriateness

Appropriateness suggests that behavior and choices should align with the character’s position and circumstances within the story. This trait means that a tragic hero’s actions fit their societal role.

For example, a king might deal with decisions about war or governance, while a general might struggle with issues of loyalty or bravery. The actions should make sense of who they are, which helps the audience believe in the story and better understand the hero’s choices.

This ensures that the tragic hero’s actions are believable and relatable, enhancing the realism of the tragedy.

3- Likeness

Likeness in a tragic hero refers to their relatability. Aristotle argues that the tragic hero should represent common human qualities to a significant extent, allowing the audience to see the hero as ‘like them’ in some ways.

They have qualities that everyone can understand, like ambition, love, or fear. Aristotle believed that the audience should be able to see a bit of themselves in the tragic hero. This makes the audience more emotionally involved in the story, as they can imagine themselves in the same situations.

This likeness is critical to ensuring that the audience can empathize and feel the emotions of pity and fear effectively, which are essential for the cathartic experience Aristotle aims for in tragedy.

4- Consistency

Consistency in character is about maintaining certain behaviours and personality traits throughout the play. Aristotle insists that once a character’s fundamental traits are established, they should remain consistent to preserve the story’s believability and integrity.

A tragic hero acts consistently throughout the story. This doesn’t mean they can’t change over time, but their actions should make sense based on their personality and previous decisions. It helps the audience follow the story and feel more invested in the character’s journey.

This consistency helps build a coherent narrative in which the audience can understand and predict the character’s actions, making the eventual peripeteia and anagnorisis impactful.

Structural Aspects

Aristotle’s ideas about the tragic hero include important elements that shape classical tragedies’ structure and emotional impact. These elements are:

• Peripeteia
• Anagnorisis
• Noble birth
• The inevitability of fate
• Flaw and fall
• Catharsis through suffering

Each plays a crucial role in developing the tragic narrative and deepening the audience’s engagement and emotional response.

1- Peripeteia

Peripeteia, or reversal of fortune, is a sudden change in a character’s situation from good to bad. This dramatic turn is crucial in tragedy because it marks the beginning of the hero’s downfall.

It’s triggered by the hero’s actions, often from a tragic flaw, and shifts the storyline. This reversal advances the plot and heightens the tragedy by contrasting the hero’s success with their doom.

2- Anagnorisis

Anagnorisis refers to the moment of recognition or realization where the tragic hero gains essential knowledge that was previously unknown to them. This often includes the realization of how their own actions have contributed to their downfall.

Anagnorisis usually follows or coincides with peripeteia, compounding the tragedy as the hero understands their role in their own fate, just as their situation irreversibly worsens.

3- Noble Birth

Tragic heroes are often of noble birth or high societal status. This isn’t just to make their fall more dramatic, though it does serve that purpose; it also positions the hero in a context where their decisions have profound consequences, affecting many people and large domains. Their high status makes their ultimate downfall a matter of public interest and societal impact, thus magnifying the tragic effect.

4- Inevitability of Fate

The concept of fate’s inevitability in tragedy suggests that no matter what the hero does, his downfall is predestined. This could be due to prophecies, curses, or the gods’ will.

The inevitability creates a sense of tragic irony and helplessness as both the audience and, eventually, the hero comes to understand that the tragic outcome cannot be avoided.

5- Flaw and Fall

The tragic flaw, or ‘hamartia,’ refers to a critical character weakness that leads to the hero’s downfall. This flaw often involves hubris (excessive pride), but it can also be a misjudgment or a moral weakness that initially seems like a virtue but proves disastrous.

The hero’s flaw inevitably leads to their fall, the catastrophic culmination of their errors and misfortunes, often resulting in death or utter ruin.

6- Catharsis Through Suffering

Catharsis is the emotional release the audience feels at the end of a tragedy. Through witnessing the tragic hero’s journey—marked by suffering, realization, and downfall—the audience experiences a purging of emotions, particularly pity and fear.

This catharsis is considered a key purpose of tragedy, providing not only emotional relief but also a moral lesson about human limits and vulnerabilities.

Example from Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex