The Aristotelian Tragic Hero in Thomas Hardy´s Novels. A Comparative Study

Academic Paper from the year 2013 in the subject Literature - Modern Literature, Masaryk University , language: English, abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyse the character of Jocelyn Pierston as a tragic hero. The paper focuses on two novels - "The Pursuit of the Well-Beloved" and "The Well- Beloved" - and is divided into two main chapters, while the latter novel is preferred. The first half of the work is dedicated to the Aristotelian concept of the tragic hero, its usage and the conditions for a protagonist to be labeled as such. In addition, some of Thomas Hardy¿s opinions on humanity, fate and nature will be shown and discussed with several sources, as well as his attitude towards tragic heroes. In the second half the main protagonist is thoroughly examined in both novels in order to find his tragic flaw and understand his character.By the analysis of various tragic effects depicted in the source texts the thesis tries to argue whether Pierston fulfills those conditions and is a tragic hero or whether he simply lacks the needed qualities.