Traditional Characteristics
An Aristotelian tragic hero must possess specific characteristics such as-
1) Flaw or error of judgment (hamartia) Note the role of justice and/or revenge in the judgments.
2) A reversal of fortune (peripeteia) brought about because of the hero’s error in judgment.
3) The discovery or recognition that the reversal was brought about by the hero’s own
actions (anagnorisis)
4) Excessive Pride (hubris)
5) The character’s fate must be greater than deserved.

The tragic hero should not be thought of as “Worse” or “Better” than any of the viewing or reading audience. The tragic hero should be seen as empathetic, we should relate to them on some level, we’re almost rooting for them- even though we know their fate has been sealed. If the tragic hero is seen as “Evil” the audience could easily dismiss an entire play or narrative as they hero “got what they deserved”. Contrary to this the tragic hero shouldn’t come off as overly righteous or the “Good guy” in a piece, this would lead an audience to feel that it wasn’t fair, that it isn’t truthful and alienate an audience. When the tragic hero dies (after a courageous but fruitless battle after making a defining mistake) the tragic hero will accept their death with honor. 

Additional traits and characteristic of a tragic hero:
Hero must suffer more than he/she deserves.
Hero must be doomed from the start, but bears no responsibility for possessing his flaw.
Hero must be noble in nature, but imperfect so that the audience can see themselves in him.
Hero must have discovered his fate by his own actions, not by things happening to him.
Hero must understand his doom, as well as the fact that his fate was discovered by his own
actions.
Hero’s story should arouse fear and empathy.
Hero must be physically or spiritually wounded by his experiences, often resulting in his death.
The hero must be intelligent so he may learn from his mistakes.
The hero must have a weakness (usually it is pride)
They must be faced with a very serious decision that he has to make

 

YOUR ASSIGNMENT :

Watch August Wilson “the Ground on which I stand” and Fences both provided below! 

Video Player

Individual Questions! 

1) By the end of Fences every character except for Raynell is institutionalized ( Rose in the Church, Lyons in the penitentiary, Gabriel in the mental hospital, and Cory in the US Marine Corps). What does this idea of the “Institutionalization” of Troy himself and eventually all his family members represent? What does it mean that Raynell is the sole remaining Maxson to exist outside of any institutions? (Institution here is used to define or dictate the character of each of these persons- a parallel to Systemic Racism as mentioned in the Raisin in the Sun lecture. As if they have been branded, or told what they’re allowed to be in society).  (1-2 Paragraphs)

 

2) To what degree are the conflicts in this play caused by racism or racial/social inequality?  All families who fall on hard times or poverty tend to go through similar tribulations as the Maxson family… give me some examples of what makes their story “Universal”?  (1-2 Paragraphs)

(Do not say that “Racism don’t play any part” in this play! This is nearly 10 years before the Civil Rights movement, and Troy’s pride mixed with societies “status-quo” of the 1950’s create an incredibly complicated character…) 

3) What does the Fence symbolize in Troy’s life? Why is this play called Fences? In your opinion, why does Troy build the fence?  (1 Paragraph)

 

( One Paragraph Min. Do not say “because he built a fence…”

OR “Troy has Fenced himself in from the world…”

DO NOT USE SPARKNOTES, Quora, or EssayHelp.com …because they are superficial and very inaccurate…)

 

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