Tragedy Protagonist:
1. Noble Character: Tragic heroes are often morally good and noble individuals, commanding admiration and respect from the audience.
2. Deep Flaw (Hamartia): Despite their moral goodness, tragic protagonists have a serious personal flaw, hubris, or weakness, which leads to their downfall. This flaw is integral to the character's personality, and it inevitably causes them to make critical errors in judgment.
3. Catharsis: The tragic hero's suffering evokes a profound emotional response from the audience, a mixture of pity (for their misfortune) and fear (of becoming the victim of such unfortunate events). This emotional catharsis is cathartic, cleansing, and purifying for the audience.
Comedy Protagonist:
1. Common Person: Comedy protagonists are often ordinary individuals, representing everyday people with recognizable strengths and weaknesses. Their appeal stems from their relatability and ability to mirror human follies and idiosyncrasies.
2. Mishaps and Mistakes: Comedic protagonists often find themselves in awkward situations or make foolish mistakes that lead to humorous outcomes. These mistakes typically reveal their flaws and shortcomings, but in a lighthearted and forgiving manner.
3. Laughing Matter: The goal of comedy is to make the audience laugh. The protagonist's misadventures, misunderstandings, and humorous trials create a sense of amusement and release tension, allowing the audience to laugh at their own shared humanity.
4. Happy Ending: Contrary to tragedy, comedy protagonists usually overcome their challenges and end the story on a happy and optimistic note, often involving resolution, reconciliation, or a sense of triumph over the odds.
In essence, tragic protagonists explore the consequences of fatal flaws and evoke powerful emotional responses through their tragic downfalls, while comedy protagonists focus on the lighter side of life, using humour to illuminate human eccentricities and provide a cathartic release through laughter and a happy ending.