going-to-my-mind–palace:

(Have a pessimistic mindset when reading. I’m trying to make sense of what we were given).

Tragedy is a serious play or drama typically dealing with the problems of a central character, leading to an unhappy or disastrous ending brought on, as in ancient drama, by fate and a tragic flaw in this character, or, in modern drama, usually by moral weakness, psychological maladjustment, or social pressures.

The dramatic form of classical tragedy derives from the tragic plays of ancient Athens, which depicted the downfall of a hero or famous character of Greek legend. The hero would struggle against overwhelming fate, and his defeat would be so noble that he wins the moral victory over the forces that destroy him. A tragedy evoked pity and terror in the audience; it was a catharsis, or washing clean of the soul, which left the spectator trembling but purified. 

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The Tragic Hero and His Tragic Flaws

Shakespearean tragedy characterized by the “tragic flaw,” the internal imperfection in the hero that brings him down. His downfall becomes his own doing, and he is no longer, as in classical tragedy, the helpless victim of fate.

Sherlock has a few tragic flaws.

One is as we see him in ASiP. Rude, seemingly uncaring, flippant. As we find out, this is due to Eurus. She killed Sherlock’s childhood friend, Victor Trevor. In turn, because of trauma, he changed the memory of what happened. Victor Trevor became Redbeard the dog and Sherlock at a young age began his spiral inwards.

His wrong judgment, blunder and vision lead him to face his death.

Another flaw is his shortsightedness. His inability to see people for who they are right away (John, Molly). To use people in the wrong way (Molly, Irene, Janine). To misjudge situations that lead to disastrous effects (Mary, CAM, Irene, Smith).

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Good Versus Evil

Shakespearean tragedy is an example of the struggle between good and evil. Most of his tragedies deal with this the supremacy of evil and suppression of good.

If we are to take metaphors as they are (and not some random happenstance that Mofftiss came upon), Moriarty burned the heart out of Sherlock. He only wanted to because Eurus wanted to do the same, but couldn’t do it herself, but that’s a moot point. And Eurus and Moriarty are only able to do this because Mycroft allowed him to speak to her for 5 minutes.

Regardless, John does not live with at Baker Street during the end of TFP. Moffat made that clear in a recent article. He comes by with Roise, sure. But really, Sherlock is alone. Greg, Molly and Mrs. Hudson are also moot points in this situation.

The dragons won in the end.

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Conflict

External conflict

Every tragic hero in a Shakespearean tragedy is confronted with some external conflicts, which he has to solve by hook or by crook.

Moriarty/Eurus, his feelings for John, saving Mary, Society, TPTB (Mofftiss/the BBC)

Internal Conflict

Internal conflict is the most essential element in a Shakespearean tragedy. Internal conflict is responsible for the fall of a highly genius, intellectual, noble and virtuous personality. Internal conflict is the confusion in the mind of a tragic hero. The tragic hero is always on the horns of dilemma. He cannot make a decision, which brings about his fall.

The fall

Moriarty/Eurus win in the end. Sherlock is not together with John. Mary is dead

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Poetic Justice

In literature, poetic justice is an ideal form of justice in which the good characters are rewarded and the bad characters are punished by an ironic twist of their fate.

Instead of dying, Sherlock gets to live.

Mycroft is reprimanded by Mummy and Daddy Holmes. Eurus remains at Sherrinford. Moriarty and Mary are dead.

Bad reviews of Season 4. Reactions from fans. TPTB are taken off their pedestal.

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Catharsis

A Shakespearean tragedy gives catharsis to our emotions. When, we watch a tragedy, we identify ourselves with the characters. We feel as if we are performing the role in the tragedy. Thus any trouble, misery or hardship of a hero compels us to feel pity for him. Similarly, we also express our wrath at the cruel deeds of the villain.

At the end of The Final Problem, we shake our fists at the main villains for the tragedy of Sherlock being alone in the end.

-Eurus

-Moriarty

-Mary

-Mycroft

-TPTB

-Society

(We could say John is also a villain).

We feel sorry for Sherlock for having to be alone. And for his faults to have been caused by someone else.

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Our catharsis is realizing the true nature of the show. (Mofftiss are terrible people, everything meant nothing (but it was not a waste), etc.)

TL;DR: BBC Sherlock fits the tenets of a Shakespearean tragedy: A tragic hero, good versus evil, conflict, poetic justice, catharsis.  Sherlock’s tragic flaws are no fault of his own, but is a flaw nonetheless. Our catharsis is realizing the true nature of the show in all aspects. X

TL;DR II: Sherlock is alone at the end of TFP and it’s a damned tragedy.

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