tragic hero

American  

[traj-ik heer-oh] / ˈtrædʒ ɪk ˈhɪər oʊ /

noun

1. a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat.

   Oedipus, the classic tragic hero.

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Usage

What is a tragic hero? A tragic hero is a character in a dramatic tragedy who has virtuous and sympathetic traits but ultimately meets with suffering or defeat.Something tragic is sadly disastrous, such as the untimely death of a loved one. A hero is someone who has accomplished special achievements and is viewed as a role model for others. In literature, tragic specifically refers to a play that is a tragedy (as opposed to a comedy), and a hero is the protagonist.You’ll see a tragic hero in many dramas, such as Oedipus in Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex or Romeo in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Outside of classic literature, however, tragic hero is used more generally for characters who have a dark past or experience a downfall, such as Batman in DC Comics or Severus Snape in Harry Potter.

Etymology

Origin of tragic hero

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

The tragic hero in Shakespeare’s magnificent play isn’t Julius Caesar but Marcus Junius Brutus, one of the conspirators who plots to assassinate the Roman dictator.

From The Wall Street Journal

Which raises the question: Might a gay actor get more credit if he opted to play our community’s most notorious supervillain, instead of another tragic hero we’re determined to uplift?

From Los Angeles Times

But Davis had the “exciting revelation” that the art form best suited to telling this story was opera, with Malcolm X cast in the role of a tragic hero.

From Seattle Times

Though the 1745 rising failed, the prince, Charles Edward Stuart, was immortalized in the popular imagination as a tragic hero, nicknamed Bonnie Prince Charlie for his good looks.

From New York Times

And Gosling steals the movie by playing Ken as a cluelessly tragic hero.

From Seattle Times