What is a Tragedy?

1
What is a Tragedy?
2
Aristotle 384-322 b.c.
3
TRAGEDY

• Tragedy depicts the downfall of a noble hero or
  heroine, usually through some combination of
• hubris (negative pride),
• fate (a predetermined ending), and
• the will of God or the gods.

4
The Tragic Hero
"Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a
thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for
your soul." - Marilyn Monroe
5
The tragic hero has powerful wish

• to achieve some goal, but they run into
  obstacles such as
• human frailty (flaws in reason, hubris, society),
  
• the gods (through oracles, prophets, fate),
• or nature.

6
A change in fortune

• Aristotle says that the tragic hero should have a
  flaw and/or make some mistake.

• The hero does not have to die at the end, but
  he/she must undergo a change in fortune.

7
revelation or recognition

• In addition, the tragic hero may achieve some
  revelation or recognition about
• Fate (human lives are scripted
• and we have no choice)
• Destiny (what we become is
• determined by what we choose to do.)

8
From this revelation comes

• Wisdom

Aristotle calls this sort of recognition "a
change from ignorance to awareness of a bond of
love or hate."