What Does The Tragic Arc Mean?
A tragic arc refers to a narrative structure where the central character experiences a downfall, typically due to a combination of personal flaws, poor decisions, and unavoidable circumstances. Tragic arcs are often emotionally charged, exploring themes of human frailty, hubris, and the consequences of one’s actions.
This type of arc is rooted in classic storytelling, dating back to ancient Greek tragedies and Shakespearean dramas, and continues to resonate in modern literature, film, and television.
The Tragic Arc Story Structure
These are the main beats in a screenplay with a tragic arc.
The Protagonist’s Greatness
- The character often begins in a position of prominence, potential, or personal happiness. They may be talented, respected, or admired, which makes their downfall all the more impactful.
- Examples: A king, a hero, or someone who is beloved and successful.
The Fatal Flaw (Hamartia)
- The character’s downfall is driven by a fatal flaw or hamartia—a deep-seated weakness or error in judgment.
- Examples: Pride, ambition, jealousy, or a need for control.
The Turning Point
- A critical decision or event sets the character on an irreversible path toward tragedy.
- This moment, often stemming from the character’s flaw, escalates the conflict and seals their fate.
The Downfall
- The protagonist’s life unravels, leading to a loss of status, relationships, or personal integrity. The downfall is often self-inflicted but magnified by external forces.
The Catharsis
- The story concludes with a moment of catharsis, where the audience experiences a release of emotion, often through pity and fear.
- In many cases, the protagonist gains some form of insight or recognition (known as anagnorisis) before the end, but it comes too late to save them.
Why Tragic Arcs Work
- Emotional Depth: Tragic arcs evoke strong emotions like pity, sadness, and even anger, creating a profound connection with the audience.
- Relatability: The flaws and struggles of a tragic character often mirror universal human experiences, making their journey resonate.
- Moral Lessons: Tragic arcs often explore themes of hubris, morality, and the consequences of unchecked ambition or desire.
Examples of Tragic Arcs
Oedipus Rex (Sophocles):
Oedipus is a noble king whose fatal flaw—his hubris and determination to defy fate—leads to his downfall as he unwittingly fulfills a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother.Macbeth (William Shakespeare):
A once-loyal soldier is driven by ambition and manipulated by external forces (the witches and Lady Macbeth) into committing regicide, spiraling into paranoia, tyranny, and ultimately, death.Breaking Bad (Walter White):
Walter White’s intelligence and pride fuel his transformation from a mild-mannered teacher to a ruthless drug kingpin. His need for control and legacy destroys his relationships and, ultimately, himself.Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars Prequels):
Anakin’s fear of loss and desire for power lead him to betray his allies and become Darth Vader, losing everything he once held dear in the process.
Themes Explored in Tragic Arcs
- Hubris and Downfall: Many tragic arcs revolve around the dangers of excessive pride or ambition.
- Fate vs. Free Will: Is the character doomed by fate, or do their own choices seal their downfall?
- Moral Consequences: Tragic arcs often explore the repercussions of unethical decisions.
- Loss and Regret: Tragic characters frequently grapple with the emotional toll of their actions, often realizing too late the cost of their choices.
The Tragic Arc in Modern Storytelling
While classic tragedies often revolve around kings and heroes, modern tragic arcs explore characters from all walks of life. These stories delve into personal, relatable struggles that mirror societal issues, such as addiction, power, or corruption.
Why Tragic Arcs Remain Relevant
- They reflect the complexity of human nature, reminding audiences that greatness and weakness often coexist.
- They allow for nuanced storytelling, with characters who are neither purely good nor evil but profoundly human.
36 Scenes. 5 Minutes. Yeah, seriously.
25 Prompts To Make Drama Horror Comedy Action Thriller Screenplays In Minutes
Checkout our Quick Start Guide and watch us write a 36-scene screenplay in minutes.
We give you 25 prompts FOR FREE (no form fills required!) to write screenplays with actualiz in minutes.
50 Examples Of Movies With Tragic Arcs
- Romeo and Juliet (1968)
- The Great Gatsby (2013)
- The Godfather (1972)
- Titanic (1997)
- A Star is Born (2018)
- The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
- Moulin Rouge! (2001)
- Million Dollar Baby (2004)
- Atonement (2007)
- La La Land (2016)
- Forrest Gump (1994)
- Schindler’s List (1993)
- The Notebook (2004)
- The Green Mile (1999)
- Brokeback Mountain (2005)
- American Beauty (1999)
- Philadelphia (1993)
- Million Dollar Baby (2004)
- Dead Poets Society (1989)
- The Deer Hunter (1978)
- The Elephant Man (1980)
- The English Patient (1996)
- The Last Samurai (2003)
- Good Will Hunting (1997)
- The Wrestler (2008)
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
- Gran Torino (2008)
- The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
- Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
- Ordinary People (1980)
- American History X (1998)
- The Basketball Diaries (1995)
- The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
- Million Dollar Baby (2004)
- City of God (2002)
- Donnie Darko (2001)
- Requiem for a Dream (2000)
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
- The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
- The Seventh Seal (1957)
- The Pianist (2002)
- Sophie’s Choice (1982)
- The Last King of Scotland (2006)
- The Road (2009)
- The Machinist (2004)
- Blue Valentine (2010)
- Manchester by the Sea (2016)
- No Country for Old Men (2007)
- The Revenant (2015)
How To Write a Tragic Arc
1. Establish Your Character
The first thing you need to do is establish your main character. This character should be someone that your readers can relate to and care about. They should be well-rounded and fully developed, with their own goals, strengths, and weaknesses. Think about the character’s backstory, their relationships, and their motivations.
To create a protagonist that will engage your readers’ emotions and empathy, you need to know who they are, what they want, and why they want it. A great way to develop these elements of character is by creating a character profile with things like their name, age, occupation, family, and personality traits.
Some specific movie examples of protagonists with tragic arcs:
- Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
- Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Maximus in Gladiator (2000)
- Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic (1997)
- Jean Valjean in Les Misérables (2012)
- Walter White in the TV series Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
- Donnie Darko in Donnie Darko (2001)
- Michael Corleone in The Godfather (1972)
- William Wallace in Braveheart (1995)
- Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Each of these characters faces a tragic arc, with a catalyst that sets their story in motion, a tragic flaw that ultimately leads to their downfall, and a climax that brings their story to a tragic conclusion. These characters are well-rounded and fully developed, with their own goals, strengths, and weaknesses, making them relatable and engaging to viewers. Their stories are emotionally impactful and stay with viewers long after the movie has ended.
2. Create The Catalyst
The catalyst is the event that sets the tragic arc in motion. This event should be significant and have a profound impact on your character’s life. It should also be something that your character cannot control or prevent. The catalyst can occur early or late in your story, but it must be the incident that sets off the chain of events that leads to the tragic conclusion.
The catalyst can be a range of events, including the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, an accident, or a betrayal. Whatever it is, it should be something that resonates with your readers and creates a sense of urgency and tension in your story.
Here are some specific movie examples of the characters with tragic arcs and their catalyst moment:
- Anakin Skywalker losing his wife and unborn child in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
- Tony Stark failing to stop Thanos in Avengers: Endgame
- Maximus’ family being killed in Gladiator
- The Titanic hitting an iceberg in Titanic
- Jean Valjean stealing bread in Les Misérables
- Walter White being diagnosed with cancer in Breaking Bad
- Donnie Darko surviving a plane crash in Donnie Darko
- Michael Corleone’s father being shot in The Godfather
- William Wallace’s wife being killed in Braveheart
- Andy Dufresne being wrongfully convicted of murder in The Shawshank Redemption
3. Build The Tragic Flaw
Your character should have a tragic flaw that ultimately leads to their downfall. This flaw can be a personality trait, a belief, or a behavior that is deeply ingrained in your character’s psyche. It should be something that your character is unaware of or unable to change.
The tragic flaw is a critical element of the tragic arc. It is what drives the story and creates the conflict that leads to the tragic conclusion. It is essential that you spend time developing your character’s tragic flaw and showing how it impacts their decisions and actions throughout the story.
Here are some specific movie examples of the tragic flaws of characters with tragic arcs:
- Anakin Skywalker – his fear of losing those he loves leads him to become consumed by the dark side of the Force
- Tony Stark – his ego and desire for control prevent him from fully trusting his team and leads to his downfall
- Maximus – his desire for revenge blinds him to the fact that the new emperor is no better than the one he seeks to avenge
- Rose DeWitt Bukater – her loyalty to her upper-class status and fiancé prevents her from being with the man she truly loves, ultimately leading to her tragic end
- Jean Valjean – his obsession with evading justice and hiding his identity prevents him from fully living his life and ultimately leads to his tragic end
- Walter White – his pride and desire for power lead him down a path of crime and destruction, ultimately leading to his downfall
- Donnie Darko – his inability to accept reality and his belief in a higher power lead him to make decisions that ultimately lead to his tragic end
- Michael Corleone – his loyalty to his family and desire for power lead him to become a ruthless mafia boss, ultimately leading to his downfall
- William Wallace – his desire for revenge and inability to see the bigger picture lead him to make decisions that ultimately cause his downfall
- Andy Dufresne – his inability to fully trust others and his desire for revenge lead him to make decisions that ultimately lead to his tragic end
4. Escalate The Conflict
As your story progresses, the conflict should escalate. Your character should face increasingly difficult challenges and obstacles that test their resolve and force them to confront their tragic flaw.
The conflict can come from many sources, including external challenges like other characters or circumstances, and internal challenges like the character’s own weaknesses and fears. As the conflict escalates, the stakes should become higher, and the tension should increase, leading up to the climax.
- Anakin Skywalker killing Mace Windu and pledging himself to the dark side of the Force in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
- Tony Stark sacrificing himself to defeat Thanos in Avengers: Endgame
- Maximus revealing his true identity to Commodus in Gladiator
- Rose DeWitt Bukater choosing to stay with Jack at the expense of her own survival in Titanic
- Jean Valjean revealing his identity to save an innocent man from prison in Les Misérables
- Walter White admitting to his wife that he was the one who poisoned their son in Breaking Bad
- Donnie Darko choosing to sacrifice himself to save others in Donnie Darko
- Michael Corleone ordering the death of his brother, Fredo, in The Godfather: Part II
- William Wallace refusing to submit to English rule, even if it means his own death, in Braveheart
- Andy Dufresne escaping from Shawshank prison and finally being free in The Shawshank Redemption
5. Reach The Climax
The climax is the point in your story where everything comes to a head. Your character’s tragic flaw should be fully exposed, and they should be faced with a final decision or action that ultimately leads to their downfall.
The climax is the most critical moment in the story. It is where the tension and conflict reach their peak and the tragic arc is fully realized. It should be a moment of great emotional impact for the reader, and it should be the culmination of everything that has come before.
- Anakin Skywalker’s final battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, where he is ultimately defeated and left to die on the planet Mustafar
- Tony Stark’s sacrifice to wield the Infinity Stones and snap his fingers to defeat Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, which ultimately leads to his death
- Maximus’ final battle with Commodus in Gladiator, where he kills Commodus but is mortally wounded himself
- Rose DeWitt Bukater choosing to let go of Jack’s hand and let him sink into the freezing water in Titanic, ultimately leading to his death
- Jean Valjean’s final moments with Cosette in Les Misérables, where he passes away peacefully after a life of sacrifice and redemption
- Walter White’s final confrontation with Jack and his gang in Breaking Bad, where he ultimately saves Jesse but is mortally wounded himself
- Donnie Darko’s final moments, where he chooses to stay behind and be killed by the airplane engine, thus preventing the timeline from resetting and saving the lives of others
- Michael Corleone’s final moments in The Godfather: Part III, where he dies alone and estranged from his family, realizing that he has lost everything in his pursuit of power
- William Wallace’s execution by hanging in Braveheart, where he dies for his beliefs and his people’s freedom
- Andy Dufresne’s escape from Shawshank prison through a sewage pipe and his eventual reunion with his friend Red in The Shawshank Redemption.
6. Show The Aftermath
Finally, you should show the aftermath of your character’s tragic arc. This can include the impact that their downfall has on those around them, as well as any lessons that can be learned from their story.
The aftermath is an essential part of the tragic arc. It is where the reader gets to see the consequences of the character’s actions and the impact that their tragic flaw has had on themselves and others. It is also where the reader can learn something from the story, whether it is a cautionary tale or a lesson about the human condition.
- Anakin Skywalker’s tragic downfall leads to the rise of the Empire and the oppression of the galaxy in the Star Wars franchise.
- Tony Stark’s death in Avengers: Endgame has a significant impact on the other characters, including his daughter, Peter Parker, and his wife Pepper Potts, who must learn to move on without him.
- Maximus’ death in Gladiator leads to the restoration of the Roman Republic and the end of the reign of the corrupt emperor Commodus.
- Rose DeWitt Bukater’s survival in Titanic leads to her living a long and fulfilling life, but she is haunted by the memory of Jack and what could have been.
- Jean Valjean’s sacrifice and redemption in Les Misérables inspire those around him, including his adopted daughter Cosette, to live better lives and to fight for justice.
- Walter White’s death in Breaking Bad leads to the downfall of his criminal empire and the redemption of his former partner Jesse Pinkman.a
- Donnie Darko’s sacrifice in Donnie Darko leads to the timeline resetting and the lives of others being saved, but it also means that he will never get to live a full life.
- Michael Corleone’s death in The Godfather: Part III leaves his family estranged and alone, with his daughter Mary being killed in the crossfire of a failed assassination attempt.
- William Wallace’s death in Braveheart inspires the Scottish people to continue fighting for their freedom and ultimately leads to their victory over the English.
- Andy Dufresne’s escape in The Shawshank Redemption leads to his reunion with his friend Red and a new life of freedom, but he is haunted by the memory of his wrongful conviction and the injustices of the prison system.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you can create a compelling and emotionally impactful tragic arc that will stay with your readers long after they’ve finished your story. Tragic arcs are a powerful way to connect with your readers and create a lasting impression, so take the time to develop your characters and story, and you will be rewarded with a memorable and moving tale.
