What is the tragic form in Rebel without a Cause?

Question

Rebel without a Cause (1955, Nicholas Ray), based on Arthur Miller's theory. Thank you :)

Answer 1

Tragedy involves, at bottom, the contravention of what the Greeks labeled nomos (Law, Custom, a given normative universe, etc.) and the negative social, existential, metaphysical consequences that irrevocably accrue to the tragic hero. This is the most abstract articulation of tragic form that comes to mind. The immanent function of tragedy has been variously defined. I see no compelling reason to appeal to the definition provided by Johnston and Grandy -- most especially because it fails to provide necessary and sufficient conditions for distinguishing tragedy generically from comedy, romance, etc. -- as opposed to the definition and theoretical categories -- e.g., hubris, catharsis, etc., -- provided by Aristotle in his Poetics. In summary, I would recommend (re)reading Aristotle's Poetics and googling "nomos + tragedy". Once you've assimilated this information you'll be equipped with the necessary "software"/fresh perspective needed to discern and foreground the tragic form that is clearly resident in Rebel without a Cause. In other words, I've now given you the tools you'll need to determine if a given book, movie, novella, short story, play, etc., is or is not the stuff of tragedy. I don't have to spell it out for you by appealing directly to the content of the film in question. You'll henceforth become a rockstar discerner of the tragic form! Hurray!

Answer 2

The purpose of Tragedy, as Johnston and Grandy put it is: "to ask questions about the nature of man, his position in the universe, his relation to the powers that govern his life." Jim Stark is the tragic hero in Rebel Without a Cause, because he wants to be a man but not like his father. He wants to fit in with the other kids, but from the start he is an outcast whose character is symbolized by getting reprimanded for stepping on the school insignia. And it doesn't end there....