Nature of Tragedy

For many centuries the tragedy holds to continue to be comprehend as the most ardently gratifying arrangement of drama because it encompasses the expertness of transporting the spectator into the drama as well as allowing them to empathize with the characters, particularly the tragical wedge. The study noned above regarding tragedy was shaped by the Greek philosopher, Aristotle. Aristotle in like manner noted that the tragic flaw is imperative in the characteristic of the protagonist and the proceedings that transpire in the piece ar a manifestation of that flaw (The Poetics by Aristotle XIII. ). This philosophy of the tragic hero digest be located in both Charles Van Doren in examine Show and Shakespeares character, Othello, in his play Othello. It is the characters prominence and faults as well as their ability to acquire their audiences pity in which mark them tragic heroes. Charles Van Doren in Robert Redfords Quiz Show possesses an mankind in which numerous souls wo uld envy.His affiliation with being one of the countrys highly wise(p) and esteemed families (his father labeled an eminent professor at capital of South Carolina University as well as a Pulitzer-prize awarded poet, his uncle defined as a renowned historian, and his mother being a recognized author possessing nine-fold acknowledged works of literature) is the first step to his being a tragic hero. Charles attempts to shadow his fathers achievements as he labors as a mentor at Columbia training to conquest for his father when he retires.Alas, Van Doren believes that he reflects short in character in comparison to his family in terms of success. At this moment in time, he judges that he should have achieved a sufficient amount to the extent that wad would not seek to resuscitate to him as the son only rather refer to him by his own individuality. Van Doren evidently does not recognize how inner his existence is in contrast to the majority of Americas citizens that he remains f ar more triumphant than any of them could ever achieve.It is this self-distrust and catastrophic fault that will eventually direct him to his expiration as an icon throughout the progression of the film. When the ability to become a workable contender on Twenty-One displays itself, Van Doren observes it as a find oneself for him to finally receive recognition in his family this opportunity puts him into a shoes where he is forced to evaluate his ethics. Enright and Freedman shatter Van Dorens moral standards by stating that they should train him in the show and provide him with the questions that he previously knows.Van Doren mechanically recognizes that this suggestion is immoral that it is ultimately dishonourable. A significant defining moment of the film is when Van Doren encounters a crisis whether to arouse the answer to a question he was arranged to be asked or to answer the question inaccurately and preserve his veracity. Though Van Doren clearly faces a struggle withi n himself, he ultimately chooses the recognition and end that will derive from his victory on the show.The awareness he acquires from his charge on the Today Show causes it to become effortless for him to validate his verdict. The fall of Van Doren becomes apparent when Congressional investigator, Dick Goodwin, comes to New York City to analyse the quiz show after reading a piece close how Stempel attempted to acquire a trial regarding the cheating taking place on the show. After much investigation, Van Dorens fraud is observed causing his divine facade to perish along with the name he has nominated for himself.The enthralled audiences around the country, once desiring to be a part of the respond Twenty One trivially was, now see Van Dorens infamy and view him as nothing but a deceitful human being. His name, as well as his honour, is demolished because of his disillusionments and his desire to create an identity for himself. Aristotles analysis of what makes a tragic hero i s greatly demonstrated in Charles Van Dorens story represented in Quiz Show because he was of such a high consecrate in society and it was his tragic flaw of insecurity and lust for fame that initiated his downfall.Othello can be qualified to be one of Shakespeares supreme tragedies because it shadows the procedures constituted by Aristotles Poetics. Othellos prestige (that of a dark, tall, African Moor), conjugated with his particular charisma, aids him in achieving the admiration and loyalty of the Venetian people and senators. Othello, subsisting as a soldier for a large interval of his life, is viewed as an exceptionally honourable gentleman. His status as a governor-general itself displays an aura of aristocracy, poise, and potency.The identity portrays someone who is sustained in tremendously high reverence by the people of Venice. In addition to him exhibiting pronounced characteristics and courage, Othello also exhibits pride. He retains his calm air during the initial c on seeation with the senators when he is accused of witchcraft when Desdemonas father faces Othello around his courting his daughter Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,/ My very noble and canonic good masters,/ That I have taen away this old mans daughter,/ It is most true.True, I have married her. / The very head and front of my offending/ Hath this extent, no more, ( I. iii. 76-81). Though Iago is the venomous serpent of the play, it is Othellos tragic faults of gullibility and jealously that convert him from an aristocrat into a venomous prick himself, which inescapably carriages him to his demise. Although Iago fuels the fire that is Othellos jealously through his tactics of manipulation, Othellos unfeasible train of thought must be analyzed to sanction Aristotles definition of a tragic hero.This defect ultimately directs him to his disbelieve the murder of his devoted wife, Desdemona, and himself. Before Othello kills himself, he acknowledges his fault in murdering his heartfelt wife besides that in Aleppo once,/ Where a malignant and a turbaned Turk/ Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,/ I took by the throat the circumcised dog,/ And smote him, thus, (V. ii. 352-56). his also entails of his assassination of the monstrosity that he was bred to be.Othellos monologue proclaims that it is not the hearty Othello who is dying, but rather the turbanned Turk in which he was spawned. As the play unravels the spectator pumps resonant benevolence towards the tragic hero, as well as distress for their own lives, as the final scene the incidents leaves its mark on the stage just as Aristotle predicted. Defined, a tragedy illustrates a account that features the collapse of a protagonist.Customarily, the protagonist demonstrates upper class attributes or derives motley an upper class institute and is encountered with an antagonizing episode, whether it is external or internal, which thus causes the protagonists downfall. This fall, according to Aris totle, should come about as the result, not of vice, but of some great error or frailty in a character. A plot such as this is liable to breed empathy and panic into the audience, for pity is aroused by unmerited calamity, fear by the misfortune of a man like ourselves, (The Poetics by Aristotle XIII).This notion exemplifies an verbal expression of tragedy in which several productions are centered, including Robert Redfords film Quiz Show based on the fall of Charles Van Doren and Shakespeares Othello. It is Charless lust for fame to seek his fathers approval in which triggers his downfall, and it is Othellos gullibility and jealousy in which initiates his. Allied with the characters individual incentives, the cause-and-effect sequence of proceedings is crafted, generating pity and anxiety in the audience.