Oedipus: Aristotle's Definition of a Tragic Hero Essay

Tragedies have evolved throughout the centuries and there is myriads of definitions for tragedies many of which refute the others, however, Aristotle’s Poetics gives its own definition as well as lots of insight. While there is no universal agreement of how a tragedy exactly should be concocted there are many reoccurring themes in tragedies which are present in Antigone such as the law of men against the law of the gods, Hamartia (the tragic flaw), View on Women, the bonds of family and the metaphor used

Cory A. Urlacher Dr. Fruhauff English 224 11 May 2015 Tragedy Will Never Be the Same “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything” (Shaw). Change is inevitable. Times change and ideas progress. One thing we think to be unacceptable now may very well be acceptable in the future. Look at the use of marijuana and even the homosexual agenda. Society is slowly progressing with its postmodern thinking and statistically speaking, those people are

The play, Oedipus the King by Sophocles presents a grim hamartia caused from a terrible deed of long ago. Oedipus the protagonist is the powerful King of Thebes and held of high estate by the people of Thebes. As the terrible deed of Oedipus’s becomes apparent to both Oedipus and the City of Thebes his tragic flaw is slowly realized. The play will show “tragic power resides in human failing, hamartia, constantly underpinning any sense of the inevitable” (Walton). The play will show the author’s view

Oedipus Rex is a story that can be interpreted on many different levels of thinking. The ancient tale has existed for centuries and has been subjected to countless forms of analysis. What is it that makes Oedipus the King such a fascinating story? Is it the suspense of a developing mystery that captivates the audience? Or perhaps the wonderful feeling the readers get after vicariously experiencing the horror Oedipus feels? And if not that, could it be that the reader is intrigued at Sophocles' description

Tragic Hero or Coward? In Achebe’s book Things Fall Apart Okonkwo is arguably made out to be a “coward” due to the killing of the messenger and to himself. Many reader’s don’t see that Okonkwo is no coward at all, but should be considered a “tragic hero”. In the tribe of Umuofia, Okonkwo is considered to be the “greatest men of his time”(Achebe 8), his characteristics fit the definition of an everyday hero, which is a man of distinguished courage, ability, and thought highly of for his brave

Blind Justice and “represents equality, knowing no differences in the parties involved,” (“The Symbol of Justice”). No bribery can sway the decision of justice. The best definition that comes up is the Oxford Dictionary’s which defines just as “based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair,” (“Just | Definition of

tragedy occurs when the audience “feels both fear and pity because they see in themselves the potential for similar situations” (Kirszner and Mandell 1087). Aristotle’s literary theory of tragedy applies only to “imitation of persons who are above the common level, he must be one who is highly renowned and prosperous – a personage like Oedipus, Thyestes, or other illustrious men of such families” (Aristotle) because his theory was developed for application to the literary works of poets and playwrights

historically in the self-definition of Western civilization. As this tradition has been multiple and discontinuous, yet the term has often been used to invoke a powerful effect of cultural identity and historical continuity. ‘Tragedy’ is the term applied to dramatic representations of serious and important actions which eventuate in a disastrous conclusion for the protagonist or the chief character. More precise and detailed discussions of the tragic form properly begin with Aristotle’s (384 – 322 BC )

whole and any action that a person anxiously deliberates about. Morford and Lenardon (1985) write that some tablets found at a temple for Zeus demonstrate that ordinary people often asked the oracle for Zeus’ help on issues such as: “to what god or hero they should pray or sacrifice for their common good; others ask if it is safe to join a federation; a man inquires if it is good for him to marry; another, whether he will have children from his wife” (p. 73-74). The every day ordinary life events