Abstract
There is an underlying cultural dimension in modern tragedy, in that the tragic hero differs from culture to culture in modern society. In the light of this, it is appropriate to point out that whereas the modern tragic hero in the Western culture is an anti-hero as portrayed in “The tragic hero of the modern period—The European Concept”, in cultures such as, in Asia and Africa, the tragic hero still maintains some traits of the Greek heroic figure. This paper therefore fulfils an identified need to study the concept of this period’s tragedy and shows the appendages of the traits of the Greek Classical tragic hero in the modern period of the African concept. The study provides extracts from Achebe’s Things fall Apart as the main text, Achebe’s Morning Yet on Creation Day, Achebe’s Arrow of God and Rotimi’s Kurunmi as supporting texts to present the African concept of the tragic hero.
Highlights
The archetype African tragic hero is part of oral literature
In the light of this, it is appropriate to point out that whereas the modern tragic hero in the Western culture is an anti-hero as portrayed in “The tragic hero of the modern period—The European Concept”, in cultures such as, in Asia and Africa, the tragic hero still maintains some traits of the Greek heroic figure
The study of African concept of tragedy cannot accommodate the European generic tradition. This is because modern African notion of tragedy, though distinct from the oral traditional concept of “laughing at tragedy”, is thematically focused rather than generically based
Summary
The archetype African tragic hero is part of oral literature. This means that the traditional tragic hero can be found only in oral literature. As the spectacle of tragic suffering is enacted, the African does not see tragic suffering as an isolated case of unrelieved suffering but sees it as a projection of an entire span, tragic, comic It is in the light of this cyclical concept of tragedy that the African will “laugh at tragedy”. When one’s fate or destiny is foretold, one is given a name that approximates that particular destiny The significance of this divination is aptly illustrated in traditional folklore. In African folklore, it is said that a man is called by his maker to give an account of his life, which has been a life of plenty, ease and happiness As he is about to die he calls a daughter to his bed. He says: Most African audience watching drama characterize themselves by two different but related reaction; first, they participate in the action emphatically and persistently; second, they turn tragedy into comedy by laughing-laughing at tragedy. (1966, p. 102)
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