What Are the Characteristics of an Ideal Tragic Hero?
Poetics is a notable literary work by Aristotle. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Poetics.
Answer
Critically discuss Aristotle’s view of an ideal tragic hero.
Aristotle (384-322 BCE) shares his concept of the ideal tragic hero in chapter 13 of the book “Poetics” (335 BCE). He argues that a perfect tragic hero should be neither completely good nor entirely evil. He should be a respected person who falls due to a personal error (hamartia). This hero’s downfall creates pity and fear in the audience. Below, we break down Aristotle’s view into key points.
Not Too Good or Too Evil: Aristotle says a tragic hero must be morally balanced. If a perfectly good person falls (e.g., a saint), the audience feels shock, not pity. If a villain falls, it feels deserved, not tragic. The ideal hero is noble but flawed, like Oedipus. He is a great king whose pride (hubris) leads to his ruin. This balance makes the audience relate to the hero while still respecting them. Their suffering feels unfair yet understandable. In chapter 13, the idea of an ideal tragic hero lies:
“There remains, then, … that of a man who is not eminently good and just,-yet whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity, but by some error or frailty.”
Hamartia: Hamartia is the hero’s fatal mistake, not a moral crime. For example, Oedipus unknowingly kills his father due to his impulsive anger. This error is not evil but human. Aristotle emphasizes that the hero’s downfall must result from this flaw. This makes the tragedy feel avoidable. It deepens the audience’s pity (“It could happen to anyone”). Unlike villains, tragic heroes do not deserve their fate.
High Status and Noble Character: The hero should be a king, prince, or respected figure (like Oedipus or Macbeth). Their high status makes their fall dramatic. Ordinary people’s struggles do not inspire the same pity and fear. Aristotle argues that tragedy imitates “serious” actions. So the hero’s position must reflect this gravity. However, their nobility also highlights their hamartia. For example, Macbeth’s ambition is worse because he’s a brave general, not a common man.