Tragic heros are often noble but suffer from a fatal flaw. A reversal is when the tragic hero experiences many events that not only cause them pain, but also disrupt the natural order of things, causing fear and pity. They must first recognize their fatal flaw and then die. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, observed the tragic heros and collected their conventions. To be considered a tragic heroine in tragedy plays all the conventions must be met. These conventions were incorporated into Lear, William Shakespeare’s primary tragic hero. Shakespeare, however, added a second tragic hero to his tragic play, Lear. A secondary tragic figure, Gloucester, could be described as one because he embodies Aristotle’s tragic heroine conventions: nobility, fatal flaw and suffering. However, he does not fulfill the conventions concerning disturbance of natural order.
Because Gloucester is noble and has a fatal flaw, he can be considered secondary tragic hero. One can be noble by birth or noble by character in one of two ways. Gloucester is considered to be noble by his birth. However, it can also be argued that Gloucester is both noble and noble by nature. He is an extremely virtuous man. Gloucester’s superiority is apparent in the play’s opening when he tells Kent through a dialogue that Edmund loves him the same way as Edgar. Gloucester states, “Who yet has not been dearer in my accounts?”. He then explains that Edmund, although a poor child, is still loved by him just as much as Edgar, Edmund’s older legitimate sibling. Gloucester’s selflessness in accepting Edmund is a sign of his nobleness, regardless of the possible consequences of being called a father to an orphan child. However, Gloucester is not as noble as he appears. A fatal flaw is a personality defect that makes the tragic hero seem unbalanced. Kent questions Gloucester about his father’s adultery and Gloucester responds by revealing his fatal flaw. Gloucester remarks, “a boy for her cradle” after Kent asks him if he is his son. He confesses to his sin by admitting he had Edmund long before he got married. This act is Gloucester’s fatal flaw that causes him to be unbalanced and eventually leads him to his recovery. Gloucester is therefore a secondary tragic hero. He accepts Edmund, but he still has to deal with the consequences of his fatal flaw. A tragedy’s reversal refers to when the tragic hero reverses his fate and experiences a new, more positive, or worsening, situation. Act 3, scene 5 shows Gloucester’s reversal when he loses the title of “Earl Of Gloucester”. After Gloucester leaves Lear to aid him, Edmund informs Lear about Gloucester’s assistance and that Gloucester was sent an incriminating French mail regarding an invasion. This information makes Gloucester wanted as a criminal. Cornwall also states that Edmund has been promoted to the title of earl-of-Gloucester. It is obvious that Gloucester reversed his fortunes, going from being a noble and powerful man to becoming a wanted criminal. His fatal flaw, Edmund, was responsible for Gloucester’s social class reversal. This is what makes Gloucester feel sorry for himself. Tragic heroes must experience pain, either emotionally or physically, because they are often not deserved. Act 3, scene 7. Gloucester is taken to the hospital by Cornwall, who takes out his eyes. The servants call Gloucester, who is now wanted for criminal activity, back to their castle for interrogation. The interrogation reveals that Gloucester was just trying to protect Lear from the possible future actions of Goneril, Regan. Cornwall responded by saying “upon the eyes of thine” and forcing Gloucester to close his eyes. Even though Gloucester is suffering physically, he also feels the emotional pain of being punished cruelly and without any help. Gloucester was only trying to save Lear from Goneril or Regan. Gloucester can therefore be considered a secondary tragic figure as he suffers from emotional and physical pain after Edmund takes his title.
Although Gloucester may be considered a secondary tragedy hero, he’s not considered to be a primary tragic theo. Like Lear, Gloucester doesn’t display the conventions that disturb nature and recognize a fatal flaw. The tragic hero’s fatal flaws and reverse cause the natural and social system to go from orderly to chaotic. Gloucester’s reversal is not like Lear’s. Act 3, scene 2. This is where Lear’s anger and despair create a storm which disrupts natural order. Lear is furious at Cornwall for putting Kent in a storage. Regan then explains to Lear how Cornwall put Kent in a stock. Lear begins to feel helpless and starts to fall apart. The storm starts as Lear cries out, “This heart shall break into a thousand flaws ou ere weeps”. As the storm looks like Lear’s anger, we see that pathetic fallacy is in play. Lear’s anger made it so violent that it disturbed natural order and caused a storm. This is a convention Gloucester fails to follow, making Lear a secondary tragic hero. Gloucester does not recognize his fatal flaws, which further proves that he is not the primary tragic hero. A tragic hero must acknowledge his fatal flaws before he or she dies. Gloucester doesn’t come to terms with the fact that adultery is his fatal flaw, as Lear did. Act 3, scene 4 shows Gloucester’s ignorance about himself. Regan claims that Edmund betrayed his trust. After having his eyes removed, Gloucester cries for Edmund to help him. Regan then informs Gloucester that Edmund had betrayed him. Gloucester then cries “Oh my follies!” Edgar was the victim of abuse. He asks the Kind Gods to forgive him and bless Edgar. Although Gloucester knows that Edmund betrayed him, he doesn’t realize that his act of adultery was what ultimately led to his downfall. Edmund would not be a bastard if he had not committed adultery. Gloucester is therefore not a tragic hero as he does NOT conform to Aristotle’s conventions concerning disturbance of nature order and recognition of fatal flaws.
Gloucester is not Aristotle’s primary hero, as he fails Aristotle’s conventions on disturbance of nature order and recognition a fatal fault. Aristotle regards Gloucester as a secondary tragic character because he strongly endorses Aristotle’s conventions, including nobility. He also believes in reversal. Gloucester is not a tragic hero of the first order because he doesn’t disrupt the natural order like Lear. And he doesn’t realize his fatal flaw, adultery. His love for Edmund is a sign of his noble nature, but he soon becomes unbalanced by his fatal flaw in adultery. Gloucester’s fatal flaw causes his reversal. His title as “Earl in Gloucester” is lost, which results in his emotional and physical suffering. Conventionally, the tragic protagonist must conform to all Aristotle’s conventions. That is what separates the primary tragic and secondary heroes from each other in this tragedy.
