Characteristics of a Tragic Hero
1.Reversal: The character begins as person of
noble Stature and good character
2. Reversal; Through actions of his own,
through freedom of choice and a belief in
his/her own freedom, his actions result in a
downfall or reversal of fortune.
3. Reversal: Suffers for doing what he is
doing, for his/her choice
4. Error or Flaw: This action may be a result
of a tragic flaw – such as supreme Pride;
however, in many Greek tragedies, this action
is the result in an error, an error caused by
faulty logic or information.
5. Error or Flaw: Once he has set the action in
motion, he/she is committed to the course; his
effects of the error are inevitable.
6. Recognition: Recognizing the error in
judgment or the flaw in his character, the hero
protests his fate, his punishment, his suffering
– punishment outweighs the crime or failure or
flaw
7 Recognition: The recognition leads to
Transfiguration – the hero’s suffering changes
him into a better person
8. Recognition has a larger impact – the hero’s
suffering impacts the community – something
is gained from his/her suffering
Antigone
Creon