Is Jay Gatsby a classical tragic hero?
Characteristics of a classical hero:
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the hero is someone who is not too “good” or too “bad”, but the plot shows us that the
hero´ s fate is tragic
the tragic flaw (hamartia): the hero is a person who disturbs the cosmos´ balance
which is determined by the gods (one form of hamartia was pride or overweening selfconfidence which leads the hero to violate a moral law)  this status can be
overcome by insight
after the mistaken act, the hero´ s fortune changes from happiness to misery 
catastrophe  the hero suffers
the tragic effects: the spectator must be able to have pity with the hero (and his the
most times determined fate) and also to “shudder” of his fate (because the same could
happen to him) – in some translations the principles were translated by: “pity and
fear”
so the conflict in the drama has to be realistic (the situation should not be too unjustly
- the innocent person cannot be punished for something which was not caused by his
fault)
A typical example of a classical tragic hero:
Sophokles´ King Oedipus
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Oedipus has rejected the social rules (at the beginning of the story, he is an ambitious
king, but later, he becomes snobbish and a real tyrant)
He suffers (the gods let him suffer - the foretells (predicts) have been realized 
catastrophe
 he realizes that any human acting hides the danger of being a mistake which makes
the person guilty
 he accepts his fate
Oedipus´ fate is determined by the gods, no matter what he does
He serves as a model to the spectator
Gatsby – a classical tragic hero?
pro:
- Tragic flaw (?): Gatsby is a doubtful character: he has been involved in illegal
business ; his life is exaggeratedly luxurious (he disturbs the cosmos´ balance (?))
- he is not too cool and too self-confident, Nick notices Gatsby´ s strive for a friendship
with him - also Gatsby is very lonely what is caused by his experience of being
declassed
- He has made the experience of being declassed what was the reason for him to be
ambitious to become successful – he believes in money and material things, but only
to fulfil his dream (this is the contrast to Tom´ s and Daisy` s way of life)
- tragic effect: wat happens to Gatsby is a warning for the rest of mankind (that the
strive for an ideal - also if it fails - is better than striving for nothing)
contra:
- Gatsby is been punished for something which has not been caused by his fault (he dies
innocently concerning Myrtle´ s murder)
- He does not disturb the balance in the world, he represents the materialistic view of
life
- With his strong, extraordinary believe in his ideal, he seems to become heroic (but in
another way as the classical tragic hero does !) - it is “romantic idealism”
- the “tragedy” of Fitzgerald´ s “The Great Gatsby” consists of the fact that Gatsby´ s
dream fails and that the injustice and the immorality of the wealthy Easterners wins
he is a mysterious figure (paradoxes in his character - on one hand, he behaves in a very
formal and kind way, but on the other hand you hear a lot of mysterious stories and gossips
about him)
On one hand, he does not believe that his fate is determined, because otherwise he would not
try and put all his efforts to change the past on his own ; but on the other hand, he believes
that he and Daisy are determined to have a relationship.