Dramatic Literature The Tragic Hero - 1607 Words

The tragedy is one of the most common forms of dramatic literature in use today. In a general tragedy, the protagonist, known as the tragic hero, is driven towards their inevitable demise by a fault in their personality. This defect in character, or tragic flaw as it is most commonly known, leads the tragic hero towards a succession of poor decisions that affects not only the tragic hero, but those around them as well. The tragic flaw can come in a variety of forms, although the most common flaws include greed, lust, power, ambition, and obsession. It is important to understand that all tragic heroes possess free will; they voluntarily make the choices that lead to their defeat. Through their choices, the tragic hero’s flaw is conveyed to the reader. In longer works of literature, the tragic hero is usually required to be of royal or noble stature. However, in short stories, this may not always be necessary. In order for the tragedy to be tragic, the defeat of the trag ic hero must affect many, if not all, of the characters portrayed in the narrative. As longer works usually involve many characters, the tragic hero must be of high status in order for their downfall to be relevant to all other characters. Short stories, on the other hand, generally involve much fewer characters, so the tragic hero does not necessarily need to be noble to influence in their lives. Before their end, the tragic hero must undergo a moment of realization before they reach theirShow MoreRelatedOedipus The King, And Oedipus At Colonus1343 Words   |  6 Pages Oedipus, a play written by Sophocles, has become a staple in the study of a Tragic hero in classic literature. When this was written in the fifth century, theatre was more than a means of entertainment but almost a religious event. 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Even so, upon examinationRead MoreOedipus, A Tragic Hero1648 Words   |  7 PagesOedipus, a Tragic Hero Bob Livingston Liberty University â€Æ' Sophocles presented the world with Oedipus around 2500 years ago. Never-the-less, the story remains among the most riveting of all time. He was, in fact, a man that was driven by a very high internal moral standard. It was that internal moral standard that ultimately entwined him in a sequence of events and circumstances that placed him in the spousal relationship with his mother. Oedipus, in fact, can truly be regarded as a tragic hero as AristotleRead MoreThroughout History There Have Been Many Diverse Works Of1592 Words   |  7 Pagesbeing told. In feeling these emotions and witnessing the plight of the protagonists, the audience will gain knowledge from personifying these plights and reflecting into themselves. 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