Greek Tragedy: Elements and the Aristotelian Hero

What is a Greek Tragedy?

Greek Tragedy is a specific variation of theatre that originates from the Ancient Greeks. In a Greek Tragedy, the protagonist falls into deep and overwhelming trouble that builds through the course of the story until it ends in tragedy. Greek culture and Greek divinity are heavily involved and incorporated within the text.

• Key components are Mimesis (the imitation of human affairs) and Catharsis (the cleansing or purification of emotions).
• Catharsis: Catharsis refers to the purification and purgation of emotions—particularly pity and fear—through art or any extreme change in emotion that results in renewal and restoration.
• Mimesis: Mimesis is the imitation of life in art and literature.

The Three Classical Aristotelian Unities

The classical unities, Aristotelian unities, or three unities represent a prescriptive theory of dramatic tragedy that was introduced in Italy in the 16th Century and remained influential for three centuries. The three unities are:

1. Unity of Action: A tragedy should have one principal action.
2. Unity of Time: The action in a tragedy should occur over a period of no more than 24 hours.
3. Unity of Place: A tragedy should exist in a single physical location.

Aristotle asserted that a play must be complete and whole; in other words, it must have unity (a beginning, a middle, and an end). The philosopher also asserted that the action of epic poetry and tragedy differ in length "because in tragedy every effort is made for it to take place in one revolution of the sun, while the epic is unlimited in time."

Aristotle's Description of a Tragic Hero

• Hamartia: A tragic flaw that causes the downfall of a hero.
• Hubris: Excessive pride and disrespect for the natural order of things.
• Peripeteia: The reversal of fate that the hero experiences.
• Anagnorisis: A moment in time when the hero makes an important discovery in the story.
• Nemesis: A punishment that the protagonist cannot avoid, usually occurring as a result of his hubris.
• Catharsis: Feelings of pity and fear felt by the audience for the inevitable downfall of the protagonist.

Summary of the Tragic Hero

To sum up: Aristotle defined a tragic hero strictly as a man of noble birth with heroic qualities whose fortunes change due to a tragic flaw or mistake (often emerging from the character's own heroic qualities) that ultimately brings about the tragic hero's terrible, excessive downfall.