The Tragic Hero

1
The Tragic Hero

• What Julius Caesar, King Lear,
• Bill Clinton, and Michael Vick
• all have in common

2
Aristotelian Definition of Tragedy

• Aristotle defined tragedy as "the imitation of an
  action that is serious and also, as having
  magnitude, complete in itself." It incorporates
  "incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to
  accomplish the catharsis of such emotions."

3
Definition of a Tragic Hero

• A tragic hero has the potential for greatness but
  is doomed to fail. He is trapped in a situation
  where he cannot win. He makes some sort of tragic
  flaw, and this causes his fall from greatness.
  Even though he is a fallen hero, he still wins a
  moral victory, and his spirit lives on.

4
TRAGIC HEROES ARE

• BORN INTO NOBILITY/BEGIN AT A HIGH STATION IN
  LIFE
• Julius CaesarGreat Roman General
• King LearKing of Britain
• Bill Clintongovernor of Arkansas, president of
  the United States
• Michael Vickhighly celebrated quarterback

5
Tragic Heroes Are

• RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN FATE
• Julius Caesaralienates the senators and names
  himself emperor for life
• King Learno longer wants responsibility of being
  a king
• Bill Clintonmade the decision to be unfaithful
  to his wife
• Michael Vickchose to sponsor dog fights

6
Tragic Heroes Are

• ENDOWED WITH A TRAGIC FLAW
• Julius Caesarpride
• King Learvalues appearances over reality
• Bill Clintonpride
• Michael Vickpride

7
Definition of a Tragic Flaw

• The tragic effect will be stronger if the hero is
  "better than we are," in that he is of higher
  than ordinary moral worth. Such a man is shown as
  suffering a change in fortune from happiness to
  misery because of a mistaken act, to which he is
  led by his hamartia (his "effort of judgment")
  or, as it is often literally translated, his
  tragic flaw.
• One common form of hamartia in Greek tragedies
  was hubris, that "pride" or overweening
  self-confidence which leads a protagonist to
  disregard a divine warning or to violate an
  important law.

8
Tragic Heroes Are

• DOOMED TO MAKE A SERIOUS ERROR IN JUDGEMENT
• Julius Caesartrusted Brutus and Cassius
• King Learvalues Goneril and Regans fawning over
  Cordelias sincere love
• Bill Clintonromantically involved with an intern
• Michael Vickassumes dog fighting will not affect
  his football career

9
EVENTUALLY, TRAGIC HEROES

• FALL FROM GREAT HEIGHTS OR HIGH ESTEEM
• Julius Caesaris murdered by his friends
• King Learsinks into insanity
• Bill Clintonis impeached
• Michael Vickindicted by the courts, suspended by
  NFL

10
EVENTUALLY, TRAGIC HEROES

• REALIZE THEY HAVE MADE AN IRREVERSIBLE MISTAKE
• Julius Caesarsays Et tu Brute?
• King Learrealizes his weakness opposed to the
  forces of nature
• Bill Clintonpublicly apologized for his
  indiscretions
• Michael Vickpublicly apologizes for dog fighting

11
EVENTUALLY, A TRAGIC HERO

• FACES AND ACCEPTS DEATH WITH HONOR
• Julius Caesarsays, Then fall Caesar
• King Learaccepts imprisonment with Cordelia
• Bill Clintonthe death of his integrity
• Michael Vickpleads guilty

12
EVENTUALLY, TRAGIC HEROES

• MEET A TRAGIC DEATH
• Julius Caesardies in the senate house
• King Leardies in grief over Cordelias execution
• Bill Clintonends his presidency with shame over
  impeachment
• Michael Vick death of his NFL career

13
FOR ALL TRAGIC HEROES

• THE AUDIENCE IS AFFECTED BY PITY and/or FEAR
• The tragic hero reminds us of the flaws in
  ourselves and forces us to examine how we deal
  with our lives.
• We fear the same fate.

14
Good or Evil?

• The tragic hero will most effectively evoke both
  our pity and terror if he is neither thoroughly
  good nor thoroughly evil but a combination of
  both.

15
Reflection

• How do each of these tragic heroes evoke our pity
  and fear?
• How do they display both good and evil
  characteristics?
• Julius Caesar
• King Lear
• Bill Clinton
• Michael Vick