English 10D
Aristotelian Theory of Tragedy
Often what comes to mind when we hear the word “tragedy” is something that is sad or
disastrous. Certainly this is true in terms of a popular understanding of the word. Most of the
time, if a story has a sad outcome, we call it tragic. However, if we wish to view tragedy in the
classical sense (and thereby have a greater understanding of it), particularly in discussing
literature and other art, we must look at the more specific and restrictive philosophy and criteria
of tragedy.
In his Poetics, Aristotle outlined what he believed to be the purpose of tragedy, as well as what
qualifications a work needed in order to be considered tragic. According to Aristotle, drama
(literature) is mimesis, or an imitation of life as it could be. The purpose of tragedy, specifically,
is to create pity and fear (what he calls catharsis).
According to Aristotle, a tragedy must have the following elements:
1.________________________—For Aristotle, the protagonist (also called the “tragic
hero” must be someone or high standing and importance (such as a king), or must have
some quality of personal greatness. The character must also be:
 good—showing moral purpose (though not perfect)
 appropriate—act appropriately for their station in life
 true to life—character must be believable
 consistent—character must act consistently
2. .________________________--Action is the most important aspect of tragedy. The
protagonist must take action, and it is through action that is complete, whole, and of a
certain magnitude, that the characters become happy or meet their destruction.
3. .________________________— “error”. A fatal error made by the protagonist, which
will lead to their downfall. This error is due to ignorance or a moral shortcoming. In
Greek tragedies, flaw was usually hubris, which is false or misplaced pride in human
ability to control fate and go against moral codes and bourdaries.
4. .________________________—“sudden change”. This is when the protagonist suffers
a reversal of fortune.
5. .________________________—“retribution”. The protagonist’s punishment for their
hubris.
6. .________________________—“recognition”. The moment the protagonist
recognizes their error, and ignorance gives way to knowledge.
7. .________________________—“purgation”. Again, according to Aristotle, the
outcome of tragedy is not sadness (though we might feel sadness at the end of a tragedy,
that is not its purpose). Rather, tragedy should evoke fear and pity within the audience.
We should pity the protagonist, and fear our own capacity to display their hubris and
harmatia. This leads to emotional purification for the audience, and we leave the drama
emotionally healthier than we came into it.
English 10D
Aristotelian Theory of Tragedy
Points to remember:
In the tradition of classical Greek drama, a tragedy rests on the choices of the protagonist.
Therefore, a protagonist suffering a reversal of fortune because a storm destroys their
house would not be a tragedy, because their reversal of fortune is the result of a
circumstance, rather than of a choice they made.
Likewise, a tragedy must be the result of action. Without viewing a tragic hero making
choices and taking action, we would not be able to experience the pity and fear required
of a tragedy.
Aristotle believed that humans contain within them the capacity for both good and bad,
and it is through our choices that we are either virtuous or evil. Therefore, through his
philosophy of tragedy, humans are seen as redeemable. We are able to improve ourselves
through action, or bring ourselves into ruin. The action and outcome of tragedy must
rest on choice. A character and tragedy could have a different outcome had a different
choice been made. We as the audience must recognize this in order to adequately feel pity
for the character and their choices, and fear that we ourselves might make a tragic error
as the result of our own hubris.