suffering feels unfair yet understandable In chapter the idea of an ideal tragic hero lies There remains then that of a man who is not eminently good and just -yet whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity but by some error or frailty Hamartia Hamartia is the hero's fatal mistake not a moral crime For example Oedipus unknowingly kills his father due to his impulsive anger This error is not evil but human Aristotle emphasizes that the hero's downfall must result from this flaw This makes the tragedy feel avoidable It deepens the audience's pity It could happen to anyone Unlike villains tragic heroes do not deserve their fate High Status and Noble Character The hero should be a king prince or respected figure like Oedipus or Macbeth Their high status makes their fall dramatic Ordinary people's struggles do not inspire the same pity and fear Aristotle argues that tragedy imitates serious actions So the hero's position must reflect this gravity However their nobility also highlights their hamartia For example Macbeth's ambition is worse because he's a brave general not a common man Single Tragic Ending Aristotle prefers tragedies where the hero falls from good to bad fortune e g Oedipus's exile He criticizes double endings where good bad characters get opposite fates as less tragic Happy endings he says belong to comedy A true tragedy must end in suffering to achieve catharsis Euripides' unhappy endings are actually ideal The hero's irreversible ruin makes the story more powerful Audience Connection The hero must be relatable enough to inspire fear This could be me but noble enough to inspire pity They didn't deserve this For example Oedipus's love for his family makes his downfall heartbreaking Aristotle rejects purely evil or perfect heroes because they can not create this balance The audience should see themselves in the hero's flaws but also admire their virtues This connection is why tragedies like Hamlet or Antigone remain timeless In conclusion Aristotle's ideal tragic hero is a noble but flawed person His hamartia leads to his downfall This balance creates pity and fear Heroes like Oedipus or Macbeth work because they're neither saints nor villains Their mistakes feel human their suffering feels unfair and their status makes their fall dramatic Aristotle's theory still shapes storytelling today His view reminds us that tragedy reflects life's complexity