... strengthen the emotions of pity and fear. These points include a Reversal, or change of fortune. A simple plot contains a character experiences a turn of fortune from happiness to misery or vice versa. A complex plot contains a hero, seeking happiness, who brings about his own destruction. Aristotle viewed a complex plot as more artistic than a simple. Scarface contains a plot which in this writer's opinion is ... complex because the main character Tony Montana is seeking to create happiness by gaining wealth, which brings about his downfall. Recognition ... is the discovery of someone...

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... personality of the protagonist. The plot must be "complete," having "unity of action." The plot may be either simple or complex, although complex is better. Simple plots have only a "change of fortune" (catastrophe). Complex plots have both "reversal of situation" (peripeteia) and "recognition" (anagnorisis) connected with the catastrophe. Both peripeteia and  ... anagnorisis turn upon surprise. Peripeteia leads directly to the anagnorisis. This creates the catastrophe, leading to the final "scene of suffering".   Characters in a tragedy are also very important. In a perfect trage...

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... , and Howard refuses, finalizes Willy's uselessness in the society. As mentioned before, Happy and Biff represent two sides of Willy's personality. Another significant character is Ben, Willy's dead brother, who he often talks to in his illusions. Ben is Willy's hero in that Ben is his ideal of ... Ben's offer to come with him to Alaska and become rich. On the other hand, Ben also represents false standards of conduct. His character leads Willy away from realistic ideals (Mann 317). Another significant scene in the play is the garden scene where Willy is "talking" with Ben ... for Lind...

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... media", in which they effect the imitation. Then there is the spectacle, which is the "manner", and the remaining three, the plot, character and thought are the "objects" that are imitated. Aristotle considers the plot to be the most important of these elements. He describes the plot ... , which may not always go together, to form a unity. At the same time, he says that among the actions that a character performs there are many that may be irrelevant to one another, but yet they form a unified action. Aristotle continues depicting the plot categorizing ... complex plot, the change of for...

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... media", in which they effect the imitation. Then there is the spectacle, which is the "manner", and the remaining three, the plot, character and thought are the "objects" that are imitated. Aristotle considers the plot to be the most important of these elements. He describes the plot ... , which may not always go together, to form a unity. At the same time, he says that among the actions that a character performs there are many that may be irrelevant to one another, but yet they form a unified action. Aristotle continues depicting the plot categorizing ... complex plot, the change of for...

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... by actors and not through narration and, if done correctly, produce a feeling of catharsis at its finale. A tragedy must contain six essential parts to be complete according to Aristotle; plot, character, dictation, thought, spectacle, and song. Macbeth, by William Shakespeare is a perfect example of an Aristotelian tragedy due to into numerous structural parallels to Aristotle's Poetics. Macbeth, through it use ... order for a complex plot to be complete it must contain numerous aspects. There must be an instance of suffering, some form of active circumstance and a change in fortune br...

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... do not embody desirable traits? (Shakespeare Resource Center n.pag.) The interrelation between categories does not stop there, however. It also complements his character in dealing with the play's antagonists. The evils of the antagonists are immediately contrasted by Othello's righteous traits. More important that dealing with ... As an important military figure, Othello's courage is of the highest importance in keeping his reputation and position intact. Therefore, Othello's character not only allows him to achieve the respect and adversity that tragic heroes usually encounter, but i...

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... quality, not to say "being and nothingness". Hamlet is someone who both imposes himself on us through the complexity and mysterious nature of his character, which is to an extent almost indecipherable. His is also one around which our own personality can allow itself to be shaped. He is ... exchange. Each of us, no matter what age, can recognise him/herself in Hamlet and can shape the myth of Hamlet in his/her image. The character of Hamlet is made up of undulating lines; it has the yielding flexibility of "a wave o' th' sea." He is, as it were, wrapped ... up in his reflections, and on...

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... their world full of chaos and turmoil lead to this battle of good and evil which exists in Othello, both play and person. Othello's character is undone by Iago, who is intent on vengeance, and uses Othello's good traits against him, eventually leading to self destruction for an unnecessary ... end of the play, the inevitable tragic result beyond those involved powers is what makes it Shakespeare's ultimate tragedy. All tragedies contain a strong heroic character that is sympathised with by the responders, as in Othello where he is first considered "great" however is brought under by some...

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... has now been generally recognized." Shakespeare did not want to make a "model of irresolution, a case for psychopathology, or an illustration of the Oedipus complex." Arnold Kettle claims that "It is unforgivable to act Hamlet as though he were a neurotic instead of a hero" (Szenczi 1990: 124). William Guthrie ... first a hero who wins over the world and himself, then a fragile young man who takes refuge in daydreams and melancholy, then a loveable and weak character that is too sophisticated both morally and emotionally, then a symbol of melancholy and Weltschmerz (1995). According to a...

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... of a Salesman withstands the test. The first element of tragedy to consider is the plot. According to Aristotle, a tragic plot must have three complex factors: reversal, recognition, and scene of suffering. The first of these, reversal, requires a reformation of the tragic hero as they identify their flaw ... and fall from their position in society. Next, the character recognizes their hamartia, or mistake, and overcome it; the recognition phase of a tragedy. The scene of suffering follows, when painful, destructive action takes ... not make the same mistakes and in that way Willy trium...

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Willy Loman, the main character in Death of a Salesman is a complex and fascinating tragic character. He is a man struggling to hold onto what dignity he has left in a changing society that no longer values the ideals he grew up to believe in. While society can ... to secure, in Miller's words, "a sense of personal dignity." As the play progresses, one begins to feel sorry for Willy and his predicament, but also angry and frustrated with the character for his foolish pride. It is this trait that prevents him from accepting a steady job with Charlie, something that could have saved his life. ...

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... that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude, through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions. According to Aristotle, the diction must be elevated and the central character of a tragedy must not be so virtuous that instead of feeling pity or fear at his downfall, we are simply outraged. Also, the ... character cannot be so evil that for the sake of justice we desire his or her misfortune. The character should be someone who is famous or prosperous, like Oedipus or Medea. Aristotle believed that natural disasters such as floods, accidents, children ... h...

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Tragic Character A common question that is asked when discussing William Shakespeare's tragic play, King Lear, is what makes King Lear a tragedy? King Lear is often said to be Shakespeare's best tragic play ... his estate to his two daughters Goneril and Regan. His third daughter, Cordelia, was shunned upon and left France and Lear. There are many reasons why Lear is considered a tragic character one being he is unaware of Cordelia's love and loyalty to him so he punishes her causing her incredible pain and sorrow. Lear then gives the property to his other ... of his life but he was better...

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... opposed to a monarchy that had existed for many years. Freedom of religion was encouraged in city-states. These new ideals, though good in intentions, often conflicted with each other creating complex moral dilemmas. Antigone and Creon battle an idealistic war illustrating the conflict existing in the Greek ideals. They both based their actions on their beliefs of what is right and ... Creon thinks of her as a traitor or not, Antigone knew the gods would reserve their judgment in favor of her. She never once regrets burying her brother, which makes her character admirable. This open thr...

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A tragic hero, according to Aristotelian definitions, is a "highly renowned and prosperous" character. This figure is not perfect and has to be on some level responsible for his or her downfall. The hero's punishment usually exceeds the crime. By the end of the ... the overwhelming retribution. Through this experience, he or she finally gains wisdom. In Antigone by Sophocles, Creon fits the term tragic hero more adequately than Antigone. The two have some character flaws, and both are responsible for their own tragic consequences. They are proud, stubborn people, and their unwillingness to r...

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... of a woman in fifth century Athens, and she is able to produce sympathy from the audience, making the audience aware of her and other women's plights in that time. The character of Clytemnestra in Aeschylus" Agamemnon is very masculine and is shown posses some male traits. In these plays there is a sense of role reversal, showing the women to be stronger ... seen as a means of producing children, more importantly a son. Euripides Medea is one of the tragedies that shows a woman dominating the rest of the characters in the play. This female character throughout the play criticises the co...

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... it is called today, Hamlet. Throughout this play, several running themes are presented continuously. One that has stirred quite a controversy over the years would be the theme concerning the Oedipus Complex. This scenario is described at one relatively simple level where the Oedipal pattern is, in several ways, involved. There is the first desire to eliminate the father, or to see ... , but they were nearer in spirit to Shakespeare's art; and as they insisted on the importance of the effect of the whole rather than on the importance of the leading character, they were nearer, in their ol...

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... verbal poison in his master's ear--not by lying, but by flavoring truth with innuendo. Othello will later declare that he is "not easily jealous," and that assessment of his character seems to be shared by most of the figures around him in the play. The critical response is mixed--some critics insist that his claims to be innocent of jealousy ... , but his resolve is broken. Where earlier Oedipus threatened punishment, here the guards come on-stage and begin to torture the shepherd. The way power and force here shatter the complex network of language and time....

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... was one of the most perfect Shakespearean plays ever written, with a complex weaving of irony and fate, such that it is named a tragedy. Therefore, the tragedy must have its hero, the fallen one whose flaw brings about a moral that is taken in by all. First off, a tragic hero is the main character in a play that takes a downfall or is ruined during the ... ...

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... the guide to a well written tragedy; his methods have been used for centuries. In Aristotle's opinion, plot is the most important aspect of the tragedy, all other parts such as character, diction, and thought stem from the plot. Aristotle defines a tragedy as " an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind ... tragedy. As the plot progresses, it becomes clear that the king is plotting to kill Hamlet and Hamlet is planning to kill the king. Hamlet's plot is what Aristotle considers complex. It is accompanied by Rec...

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... themselves with dignity that reveals the breadth and depth of the human spirit in the face of failure, defeat, and even death" (Meyer 985). The protagonists must be outstanding and complex human beings who have power and stature. This makes their fall all the more startling and vivid. The protagonist suffers terribly and the conclusion is catastrophic. The suffering the protagonist ... a low point or death in the end. This was the tragic fate of these structures and the destruction of these towers can be seen as there symbolic death. Among a main character's weakness and flaws, there is...

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... Greek hero follows his fate, making serious mistakes and having a fairly simple life, the Anglo-Saxon "super" hero tries, and may succeed, to change his fate, while dealing with a fairly complex life. The Greek hero is strong and mighty while his wit and intelligence are highly valued. In the Greek tragedy, the hero struggles to avoid many flaws. Among these flaws ... destroy him. Oedipus is a tragic hero according to Aristotle's Conception in The Poetics. He is not the victim of fate expressed in the oracles. His tragedy results from within his character. He sees things only one way-hi...

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