Along the same lines of how a tragic hero need to be an enabler for not just a good plot but to reach for the desired set of emotions equally is 5) Hamartia a tragic hero with imperfections; the specific being his/her “tragic flaw” not the best adaptation of Hamartia, but is far more commonly used for a characteristic moral failing in an otherwise predominantly good man. The Hamartia of the hero is closely and inseparably connected with 6) “Peripety” the several of fortune from the point-of-view of the character involved and for a spectator or a reader the plot of the play as a whole is a reversal of the direction of the action. The analogy is thus that Peripety is contained in the idea of the boomerang effect of one’s own action. 7) Discovery – “A change from ignorance to knowledge.” The discovery of the truth of the matter is the costly beginning from the state of ignorance which is the very essence of “hamartia”. Hamartia, Peripety and Discovery all together in their ideal schematisation of the tragic plot.
Furthermore, tragedy, is presupposed as purging out of emotions of Pity and Fear i.e. Catharsis; exhilaration, a pleasurable sense of relief and the Tragic hero is given the title of the enabler of the purgation of these emotions. Relation of emotional catharsis which tragedy helps generate is the tragic pleasure. Therefore the continuous insistence towards Pity and Fear is because pity is generated under the pretence of a tragedy towards the character whose punishment for the audience is exceeding his crime; the punishment is more that what he deserves, and similarly Fear is when the hero; who being “not pre-eminently just and virtuous” is still better than ourselves and yet failed, then what hope do we have left?
Therefore the catharsis that Aristotle mentioned just once in Poetics is of emotions that occurs accidentally but surely in a tragedy is something he elaborates on, this accident is to be experienced to everyone in the audience or to anyone reading a work of art; no
matter of high intellect does experience this form of proper pleasure which happens through proper tools and albeit perceived to be an “accident” is a sure shot guaranteed by the tragic hero.
Thus the tragic hero of Aristotle accounts to the whole of the Tragedy to be brought up to its potential and serve its purpose.
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