A Formula for Tragedy

A detailed Summary of A Formula for Tragedy

Audiences are drawn to tragedies because a tragedy brings out the true character's spirit and creates vivid emotions within these characters. Aristotle once stated in his Poetics that a tragedy should "arouse pity and fear in spectators." For a tragedy to procure such distinct emotions of "pity" and "fear" three elements are needed: a rounded tragic protagonist, a reversal and a discovery. In both Oedipus and The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy, these three elements of tragedy are present.

Aristotle believed on the requirements of a tragic hero. The tragic hero or protagonist is a noble leader in his society. Although obtaining strong characteristics he also has a tragic flaw (harmatia), an innate flaw in his nature that will drive him to his fall. His fate appears to be alterable to create a sense of opportunity or hope. His society should make him into a scapegoat for the sins and errors of his people and then accordingly be exiled or punished by them in such a way that his suffering is irreversible. His pride or arrogance causes the hero's punishment; but, with his futile struggle with fate he becomes grander and nobler. Along with a tragic hero the emotions of "pity" and "fear" are brought about by two key factors p

The main character, Oedipus, is often referred to as the archetype of the tragic hero. The main character of The Mayor of Casterbridge, Michael Henchard, is a parallel to Oedipus' archetype with some alterations of course. Oedipus is born into royalty, but when he is born an oracle prophesizes his fate to kill his father and marry his mother. Henchard on the other hand is first presented by Hardy as a young hay-trusser burdened by a wife and child setting out to make a living but this set-back only makes Henchard's corporate and municipal rise all the more impressive.

resented in Aristotle's Poetics. One is the reversal of the hero's fortune (peripeteia) that is, some event that definitely starts the hero, who is famous and prosperous, on the road to suffering and misfortune. The other is discovery (ananorisis). This occurs when the hero finds out something important that causes a change within himself to correspond to the outward changes brought on by the reversal. In the best kind of tragedy, reversal and discovery go hand in hand.

By the end of this tragedy, however, their names have become a curse. Following the template of a tragic hero, Henchard and Oedipus' downfall is only to come. Henchard falls into debt and because of his adamant pride will not take any charity. He had gone out of his way to out do Farfrae but these efforts just made a mockery of him. Even when he tried to keep Elizabeth, his wife's daughter, near him the truth was exposed and she banished him. When the shepherd comes and reveals the origin of Oedipus t

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Approximate Word count = 1043
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English