or, how to learn from others’ mistakes
 Joseph Campbell found that every culture has its
stories of heroes. The structures of these tales are often
strikingly similar between one culture and another.
 The Hero follows a certain, structured path in order to
fulfill their destiny.
 1. Heroes are introduced
in the ORDINARY
WORLD, a place that is
comfortable-but-boring,
where
 2. they receive the CALL
TO ADVENTURE.
 3. They are RELUCTANT
at first or REFUSE THE
CALL, but…
 4. …are encouraged by a
MENTOR, who gives them
an SPECIAL ITEM or
ANCIENT WEAPON, to
 5. CROSS THE FIRST
THRESHOLD and enter
the SPECIAL WORLD
where
 6. they encounter TESTS,
ALLIES, AND ENEMIES.
 7. As they APPROACH
THE INMOST CAVE, they
prepare for battle, thereby
crossing a SECOND
THRESHOLD.
 8. At the Inmost Cave, they
endure the ORDEAL.
 9. They then take
possession of their
REWARD and…
 10. …are pursued on THE
ROAD BACK to the
Ordinary World.
 11. They cross the third
threshold, experience a
RESURRECTION, and are
transformed by the
experience.
 12. They RETURN WITH
THE ELIXIR, a reward or
treasure to benefit the
Ordinary World.
 In short? The lack of a happy ending... but, of course,
it’s never as simple as that.
 The long (more accurate) version? The Tragic Hero
follows a similar path as the Hero, but will not “Return
with the Elixir”
 The Tragic Hero starts off at a high or exalted
position (such as nobility), and experiences a Fall.
 A Fatal Flaw – also called “Hamartia” – leads to his
fall.
 The Tragic Hero experiences “Catharsis,” a new
understanding/realization about the world… right
before his Fall.
 The traditional Tragic
Hero comes from a
position of Nobility,
such as a king, prince,
millionaire, or knight.
 The authors of modern
tragedies play with this
idea of nobility,
changing the literal
definition into a more
figurative meaning.
 Tragic Heroes have some
personality trait that
might seem admirable in
small doses… but the
tragic hero takes things a
little too far.
 Traits that might become
“fatal flaws” include:
pride, ambition, greed…
or even love.
 Right before their Fall,
the Tragic Hero (and the
audience/reader)
experiences Catharsis –
a sudden understanding
of their folly.
 Catharsis keeps the
audience/reader from a
sense of hopelessness –
after all, we learned
something from the
Tragic Hero’s mistakes.
 In order for the Tragic Hero’s
journey to be complete, they
must experience a Fall –
they either lose all their
power, their prestige, their
money, the object(s) of their
affection… or their life.
 If they didn’t have a Fall,
they would be just another
Hero… and we wouldn’t learn
anything from their
mistakes!
 Tragic Heroes have deep
vices and can truly sin,
while we know that flawed
heroes are always "the good
guys" no matter what they
do.
 Tragic heroes: Hamlet,
Romeo, Anakin Skywalker,
Willy Loman.
 Flawed hero: Jack Bauer.
 The “flawed” Hero will
always come out on top,
always win the day, but the
tragic hero will have a
major downfall.
 If Willy Loman is the “Tragic Hero” of Death of a Salesman,
how might he fulfill the qualification of “high or exalted”
position? The guy ain’t exactly a king…
 What might be Willy Loman’s Tragic/Fatal Flaw(s)?
Explain your reasoning.
 What realization (Catharsis) do you think it would be
important for Willy to experience before his Fall? In other
words, what do you think Willy should learn about life by
the end of the play?
 Are there any other characters in the play who might
reasonably be seen as “Tragic Heroes”? Explain your
reasoning.
 … this video contains a lot of information, with
examples:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB_Q1gFsvIw