peripeteia

Peripeteia, also spelled peripety, is a reversal of fortune in a narrative. In classical literary theory, it describes a sudden and unforeseen change in a character's circumstances, typically from stability or success to downfall, though it can also move from misfortune to fortune. The concept originates in ancient Greek drama and is a central feature of Aristotle's account of tragedy in the Poetics, where plot is distinguished from character and other elements.

Within tragedy, peripeteia usually follows a causal chain: a decision or action leads to a reversal of the protagonist's situation, altering their prospects and prompting further action. The reversal is often accompanied by or closely linked to anagnorisis, the moment of recognition when the character realizes a fundamental truth about themselves or their situation. Together, peripeteia and anagnorisis drive the emotional and moral stakes of the plot.

In broader literary and narrative analysis, peripeteia is used to describe any sharp turn in a story's direction, whether in tragedy, comedy, or modern fiction. It helps create dramatic irony and suspense because the audience anticipates how the reversal will unfold and affect the characters.

Examples frequently cited include Oedipus Rex, in which the hero's mistaken assumptions culminate in a catastrophic reversal of fortune, and Shakespearean tragedy, where characters' ambitions or errors precipitate a change from prosperity to ruin.