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
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. Oedipus, the archetypal hero, achieves rank and honor by solving the riddle of the Sphinx and rids Thebes of the monster's curse. Henchard is not exactly flawless in his past; he had sold his wife and child at a fermity bar. Likewise one can say the more recent novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy, qualifies as a tragedy by Aristotle's definition because of its ability to produce pity and fear. These two pieces of literature, both from different eras, are written along the same lines of tragedy from Aristotle. With Oedipus' screams the reversal begins, falling from his pedestal of pride he has unknowingly committed incest with his mother and murdered his father. Oedipus is now the scapegoat for the mayhem that had fallen upon Thebes and Henchard the scapegoat for the failing corn market, thus sealing the rise and fall of the tragic hero. Oedipus is born into royalty, but when he is born an oracle prophesizes his fate to kill his father and marry his mother. He had gone out of his way to out do Farfrae but these efforts just made a mockery of him. He proclaims his name proudly as though it were itself a healing charm: "Here I am myself -- / you all know me, the world knows my fame: / I am Oedipus"(7-9). By the end of this tragedy, however, their names have become a curse. Although both Oedipus and The Mayor of Casterbridge are tragedies, Oedipus fits in all respects of Aristotle's guidelines whereas The Mayor of Casterbridge does not. This is truly the formula to invoke fear and pity within the audience. The main character, Oedipus, is often referred to as the archetype of the tragic hero.
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,
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