Aristotle’s description of a tragic hero is loose, having very vague boundaries. Punishment exceeding the crime is such an example with that having several meanings. Although Aristotle wrote that tragic hero’s punishments exceed the crime, Keller’s punishment exceeded the crime by effectively throwing away everything he held dear. Joe Keller was a good father, good husband, had a good paying job, and he was socially accepted. Even if his demise was caused by his own hands, he was still throwing away a perfectly good life. Just because of one mistake, he felt guilt over all other emotions he had causing him to take justice into his own hands. The moment Joe realises what he had to do, after his son asks if he understood the letter, was a
