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

See Examples For:

tragic hero

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 ● Feb. 21, 2024

Mr. Barry saw Mr. Bruce as a tragic hero.

From New York Times ● Jul. 27, 2023

This Nixon is complex, a man of vision, a tragic hero brought down by his own flaws.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 16, 2023

Watching a Greek tragedy should, the playwrights hoped, lead the audience to relate to and sympathize with the tragic hero.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2020

The deceased was the tragic hero, the survivors the innocent victims; there was the omnipresence of the deity, strophe and antistrophe of the chorus of mourners led by the preacher.

From "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison