Shakespeare's Tragic Hero Archetype

Summary

This video explores the concept of the tragic hero, an archetype that originated with the ancient Greeks and evolved through playwrights like Shakespeare. It delves into the eight key elements of a Shakespearean tragic hero, including high stature, inherent goodness, a fatal flaw, errors in judgment, and the inevitable downfall leading to death. The tragic hero experiences both internal and external suffering, with their distorted perception of reality contributing to their demise. The audience is meant to feel pity for the hero's destruction, offering catharsis centered on human nature and its flaws rather than divine punishment.

Takeaways

• 😀 The concept of the tragic hero originated with the ancient Greeks, particularly through Aristotle's 'Poetics'.
• 😀 Tragic heroes are defined by their fatal flaw, which leads them to their inevitable downfall.
• 😀 The Greeks believed in fate, with the tragic hero's downfall being driven by the will of the gods.
• 😀 Shakespeare's tragic heroes deviate from the Greek model by focusing on human nature rather than fate.
• 😀 Shakespeare explored universal human traits such as ambition, love, revenge, and self-worth, and how they can lead to tragedy.
• 😀 A Shakespearean tragic hero is someone of high status whose downfall significantly impacts others around them.
• 😀 While not perfect, the tragic hero is generally good and relatable, possessing admirable traits that become flaws under stress.
• 😀 Tragic heroes make significant errors in judgment, which, when combined with their flaws, lead to their death.
• 😀 A distorted perception of reality often leads the tragic hero to misjudge others, exacerbating their downfall.
• 😀 Internal and external suffering are central to the tragic hero's experience, adding complexity to their conflict and eventual demise.
• 😀 The tragic hero always dies as a result of their flaws, errors, and miscalculations, evoking pity from the audience.

Q & A

What is the origin of the tragic hero archetype?

The tragic hero archetype originated with the ancient Greeks, specifically through Aristotle's work 'Poetics,' where he explored the concept of a hero with a fatal flaw leading to their downfall.

How did the Greeks view fate in relation to the tragic hero?

The Greeks believed in fate, meaning the tragic hero's downfall was not controlled by the hero but by the gods, and the hero's actions were predetermined.

What is the main difference between the Greek tragic hero and Shakespeare's tragic hero?

While the Greek tragic hero is shaped by fate, Shakespeare's tragic hero focuses on human nature and the predictable consequences of human flaws, rather than divine intervention.

Why does Shakespeare's tragic hero still maintain some elements of the classical tragic hero?

Shakespeare's tragic hero keeps elements of the classical tragic hero, such as a fatal flaw and inevitable downfall, but deviates by emphasizing human nature and personal responsibility over fate.

What role does suffering play in the Shakespearean tragic hero?

Suffering is a central element for the Shakespearean tragic hero, who experiences both internal emotional turmoil and external challenges from others or circumstances, which contribute to their downfall.

How does Shakespearean tragedy affect the audience's emotions?

Shakespearean tragedies are designed to invoke pity from the audience, who are meant to feel sorrow for the tragic hero's ultimate destruction, akin to the concept of catharsis in Greek tragedies.

What are the eight principles of the Shakespearean tragic hero?

The eight principles include: high stature, general goodness, a fatal flaw, errors in judgment, recognition of errors, a distorted perception of reality, suffering, and an inevitable death, followed by the audience's pity.

Why is a distorted perception of reality important for the tragic hero?

A distorted perception of reality is important because it leads the tragic hero to misjudge people or situations, which contributes to their flawed decisions and ultimately their downfall.

How do errors in judgment contribute to the tragic hero's death?

Errors in judgment, often stemming from the tragic hero's fatal flaw, set off a chain of events that lead to their death. These errors are usually recognized by the hero too late to prevent the tragic outcome.

What is the significance of the tragic hero's death in Shakespeare's tragedies?

The tragic hero's death serves as the culmination of their flaws, errors, and miscalculations. It is a necessary consequence of their actions and reflects the inevitable destruction brought on by their own nature.