hlg7.

weebly

.com

2

Discuss the Features of Shakespearean

Tragedy

Introduction

Like all tragedies, Shakespearean tragedies have a tale of death and suffering. And also

Shakespearean tragedies are more than just a story of death and suffering. In the words of

Dowdon –

Shakespearean tragedies are concerned with the ruin or restoration of the soul and of

the man.

Shakespearean tragedy is the designation given to the most tragedies written by

playwright William Shakespeare. The topic ‘Shakespearean Tragedy’ is the most significant and

discussed during 19th and 20th century. Shakespearean tragedy has got its own features which

distinguish it from other kinds of tragedies.

Definitions

Shakespearean tragedy is a play penned by Shakespeare himself or by another in the style

of Shakespeare

Tragedy is a serious play or drama typically dealing with the problems of a central

character leading to an unhappy ending

Webster Dictionary

According to Aristotle,

Tragedy is the imitation of an action, and of a certain magnitude; through the actions,

not narration, and through the scenes of pity and fear bringing about the “catharsis” of

these emotions

hlg7.

weebly

.com

3

Plot and Characters of Shakespearean Tragedy

The plot is the first principle and as it were the soul of tragedy the characters are

secondary.

Everyone of Shakespeare’s tragedies has a plenty of actions in each of them and they

cover wide stratches of time and frequent changes of plays. In Shakespearean tragedies,

characters' tragic figures bring their fate down on themselves by some error of their own arising

from some inherent flaw in their nature. They embark upon a course by which their ruin is

eventually assumed. Characters in Shakespearean tragedies involve their fate as Shakespeare

said –

As flies to the wanton boys,

Are we to Gods,

They kill us for their sports.

Features of Shakespearean Tragedy

Shakespearean tragedy has got its own features which distinguish it from other kinds of tragedies and are described under:

[1] One key Figure of the Play

Though Shakespeare introduces number of characters, his tragedies are ultimately concerned

with only one character. They serve to provide the story of their fate.

[2] High Status of the Hero

Shakespeare’s hero has his tragic grandeur. He is not an ordinary mortal. He is not a Superman

like the hero in the play of Marlowe; but his name of rank raise him above the other characters.

For example, the characters of Hamlet in Hemlet.

[3] Conflict

hlg7.

weebly

.com

4

American screenwriter Syd Field simply said –

No conflict, No drama.

The conflict in the Shakespearean tragedy is the essence of the whole play. There are two types

of conflicts in Shakespearean tragedies:

Internal

In the internal conflict, there is always have struggle between the main character and himself or

herself. This conflict is between attitudes, loyalties, passions and so.

External

The external conflict is the conflict in which the heroes are pitted against their antagonists. In

external conflict, there is always struggle between the main character and an outside force.

[4] Rise and Fall of Fortune

This is the more usual and perhaps more truly dramatic form, as it provides such an emphatic

contrast between triumph and disaster. The characters in Shakespearean tragedies has uncertain

fortune. In the Shakespearean tragedy, the first part of the play shows the rise of the hero’s

fortune and the rest of the part has downfall. Like Romeo wins Juliet at the end of the play in

Romeo and Juliet.

[5] Supernaturalism

Supernaturalism is an integral element of a Shakespearean tragedy. Supernatural creates sense

of awe and wonder in the tragedy. The element of Supernaturalism used to advance the story

ahead. Hemlet is the perfect example of Supernaturalism.

[6] Pity and Fear

hlg7.

weebly

.com

5

The Shakespearean tragedies include two feelings of pity and fear in them. Aristotle often called

it Catharsis. The manner in which the hero meets the tragic downfall, produces the feeling of pity

and fear in the hearts of the audience.

[7] Comic Relief

Comic relief is another feature of a Shakespearean tragedy. Shakespeare went against the Greek

and Roman writers' writing style and introduces comic relief in his tragedies. When Shakespeare

sees tragic emotions exceed, he introduces comic relief in the play. Like in Hemlet, he introduces

the scene of grave diggers. Some critics are unable to understand the comic scene in

Shakespearean tragedy. Some critics argues that –

Shakespearean tragedies are not a tragedy in the true sense of the word.

Conclusion

A Shakespearean tragedy is the five act play ending in the death of most of the major

characters.

Shakespearean tragedies are nothing but a successfully written melodramas. The

classification of certain Shakespearean tragedies are still debated among the scholars. It is

certainly that we will never approach a full understanding of Shakespeare’s tragedies if we ignore

their historically specific filiations.

Hitesh L. Goswami

B. A English

Arts College Lavana

7698700462

hlg7.

weebly

.com

2

Othello

William Shakespeare

About Author

William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright born in England in April, 1964. He was

regarded as the greatest writer in English literature. He is often called English’s national poet. He wrote

38 Plays, 154 Sonnets, two long narrative poems and much more.

Introduction

Othello is a tragedy written by the greatest playwright of English literature William Shakespeare.

Othello has crafted at the dawn of the 17th century shaped by complex social issues that new historicist

critics have recently sought to unravel. It is believed to have been written in 1603. The story revolves

around its two central characters – Othello and Iago. It has been the source for numerous film and

literary adaption.

Theme of the Play

Themes are the fundamental and universal ideas explored in a literary work.

There are several themes in the play such as Love, Jealousy, Race, Warfare and etc.

In Othello, love is a force that overcomes large obstacles and is tripped up by small ones. Othello

is a study of how jealousy can be fueled by circumstantial evidence and can destroy lives. Othello is one

of the first black heroes in English Literature. Since the play’s protagonist is a military general, war is

always in the Othello.

hlg7.

weebly

.com

3

Characters

Othello

Othello is General in the Venetian military.

Iago

Iago is Othello’s trusted but jealous ensign.

Desdemona

Desdemona is Othello’s wife and daughter of

Brabantio.

Casio

Casio is Othello’s loyal captain.

Bianca

Bianca is Casio’s lover.

Brabantio

Brabantio is venetian senator.

Roderigo

Roderigo is dissolute venetian and in love

with Desdemona.

Grantiano, Montano, Clown, Senators, Sailors,

Officers and etc.

Opening Scene

Othello begins a street in Venice with an argument between Roderigo and Iago. Iago acquainted

Roderigo that he hates Othello. Iago’s major reason to hate Othello is that Othello promotes Cassio in

spite of Iago’s service in the battle. For that now Iago only pretends to serve Othello.

Summary

Now Iago vows to get revenge. Iago first asks Roderigo to tell Desdemona’s father that his

daughter has left to marry Othello, a marriage which Brabantio hates because Othello is a Moor.

Brabantio confronts Othello, and they take their argument to the Duke. Othello and Desdemona

convinced that they love each other despite their differences. Thus, the Duke gives Desdemona

permission to travel with Othello. And by that time, they rich Cyprus.

Iago manipulates Cassio to make him drunk and gets Roderigo to draw him into a street fight.

Then Iago decides to make Othello believe that his wife Desdemona is unfaithful. Iago encourages Cassio

to ask Desdemona to plead with Othello to be reinstated. Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona is

Cassio’s lover. Trusting Iago and mad with jealousy, Othello promotes Iago and asks Iago to help him to

kill Cassio and Desdemona.

hlg7.

weebly

.com

4

Iago plants Desdemona’s handkerchief in Cassio’s room. Cassio gives it to his mistress, Bianca.

Othello believes Bianca’s possession of the handkerchief is proof that Desdemona and Cassio are lovers.

Now Othello abuses his wife in front of others.

Iago has manipulated Roderigo into trying to kill Cassio. The attempt goes wrong, and Cassio

wounds Roderigo; Iago stabs Cassio in the leg. Othello hears Cassio’s cry and thinks that Iago has killed

him. He returned to home, and ready to kill Desdemona. Meanwhile, Iago quietly kills Roderigo.

Othello reaches sleeping Desdemona and accuses her. Then Emilia enters and Desdemona

revives for a moment, declaring that Othello is innocent of her death. Iago and others enter, and Emilia

recognizes that Iago is behind the tragedy. Othello sees the truth and tries to kill Iago, but Iago kills

Emilia and flees. Othello condemns himself and commits suicide. And at the end, Iago is seized and

taken away by the authorities.

Conclusion

Othello has always been a popular play with acting companies and audience, and over the

centuries it has received responses among the scholars. While many critics have regarded it as one of

Shakespeare’s most successful plays. From its first staging to the present, Othello has also been among

the few Shakespearean plays to be repeatedly staged to audience, not only in England, but across the

world.

Hitesh L. Goswami

B. A. English

Arts College Lavana

hlg7.weebly.com

hlg7.

weebly

.com

2

The Concept of Classical

Tragedy

Introduction

Classical concept of tragedy is found in Aristotle’s Poetics. He starts his discussion of the

art of the tragedy with a formal definition –

Tragedy is the imitation of an action, and of a certain magnitude; through the action, not

narration, and through the scenes of pity and fear bringing about the “catharsis” of these

emotions.

Classical tragedy preserves the unities – one setting, one story – as they originated in the

Greek theatres. Classical tragedies are the first tragedies to come around as most of these came

from the ancient civilization. An example of classical tragedy is a story about the Trajon War.

Definitions

A classical tragedy is the story of a hero who experiences a reversal of

fortune set in motion by the God as a result of hubris.

According to Aristotle –

Tragedy is the imitation of an action, and of a certain magnitude; through the actions, not

narration, and through the scenes of pity and fear bringing about the “catharsis” of these

emotions.

A tragedy is a type of drama where the characters go through same form of suffering.

hlg7.

weebly

.com

3

Main Themes of Classical Tragedy

Such tragedy contains several themes such as downfall, death, pity, terror etc. Here are

the main themes of classical tragedy –

Suffering, Prophecy, Family, Suicide, Exile, Fate etc are the chief themes that shown often

in classical tragedies.

Plot and Characters of Classical Tragedy

Aristotle says,

Tragedy is an imitation, not of man but of an action and of life, and life

consists in action, and its end is a mode of action, not quality.

These remarks of Aristotle have given rise to a great deal of controversy regarding the relative

position of plot and characters in a tragedy. Aristotle approaches his theory with some convincing

arguments. He assigns the primary place to plot, because he thinks that –

Without actions, there cannot be a tragedy; there may be without character.

His another remark is that –

The plot is the first principle, and as it were the soul of tragedy, the characters are secondary.

By the plot, Aristotle means the arrangement of incidents. He thinks that without incidents, there

cannot be a tragedy. One may string together a set of speeches expressive of characters, but they

will not be able to produce the essential tragic effect. On the other hand, a play which has a plot

and well – constructed incidents may produce a better effect.

Aristotle’s concept of Classical Tragedy

hlg7.

weebly

.com

4

In Aristotle’s famous study of classical dramatic art “Poetics”, Aristotle compares classical

tragedy to Comedy and epic. There are six major components in tragedy according to Aristotle –

1. Plot

2. Character

3. Thought

4. Diction

5. Song

6. Spectacle

Since the aim of a tragedy is to arouse pity and fear through an alternation in the state of

the central – character, he must be a figure with whom the audience can identify and whose fate

can trigger these emotions. Aristotle said –

Pity is aroused by unmerited misfortune, fear by the misfortune of a man like ourselves.

Several of Aristotle’s main points of great value for an understanding of classical tragic

drama. In Aristotle’s statement, plot is the most important element of tragedy.

Examples of Classical Tragedy

Perhaps one of the best known of the classical dramas, Aristotle used Oedipus Rex as a

perfect example of the classical tragedy in his work Poetics. Another best examples are –

1. Sophocles' Antigone

2. Sophocles' Ajax

3. The Persians

4. Alchestis by Euripedes

hlg7.

weebly

.com

5

Except these tragedies, there were many more examples of classical tragic drama in

English literature.

Conclusion

With all these qualification, a critic can judge the work of any writer of English literature.

A critic should examine the work’s treatment, its technique, the form and the author’s attitude

of life. A critic is the voice of the reader. He works like an artist.

The pen of a critic is more exact than the pencil of an artist.

XHITESH L. GOSWAMI

Arts College Lavana

hlg7.

weebly

.com

Agamemnon

Agamemnon was the son of King Atreus. Legends make him the king of Argos. When

Helen was taken to Troy by Paris, Agamemnon commanded the united Greek armed forces in

the ensuing Trojan War. During these years, many cities have been left without a king. In Argos,

Agamemnon’s wife Clytemnestra has ruled the city in his absence. Clytemnestra has had a new

lover, Aegisthus, and they two have plotted to murder Agamemnon when he returns from Troy.

At long last, a signal fire burns meaning that the war has ended and the Greeks are

coming home. Clytemnestra keeps her murder plot a secret and acts very excited. When

Agamemnon appears, she acts very pleased to see him, and lies by saying that she has had no

other lovers while he was away. Then the two enter the palace of Argos.

Soon The Chorus of Elders hear screams of pain coming from the palace. The doors

open, and Agamemnon’s bloody body lies on the ground and Clytemnestra stands above him,

showing her true personality. The woman remains peaceful because after ten years, vengeance

has been exacted against her husband. Agamemnon choose to be a soldier first and a father

second, sacrificing his own daughter. With that Aegisthus and Clytemnestra enter the palace

and close the doors.

hlg7.

weebly

.com

King Lear

King Lear is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. The play has been widely adapted

for the stage and motion pictures with the title role coveted by many of the world’s most

accomplished actors. G. B. Shaw wrote –

No men will ever write a better tragedy than Lear

The story opens in ancient Britain where the King Lear is deciding to give up his power

and divide his kingdom amongst his three daughters – Cordelia, Regan and Goneril. Lear’s plan

is to give the largest piece of his kingdom to the child, who professes to love him the most,

certain that his favorite daughter, Cordelia will win the challenge. Cordelia, however, refuses to

engage in the game and simply replies that she loves him as a daughter should. This dull retort

of Cordelia enrages Lear and he disowns Cordelia completely. When Lear’s dear friend tries to

speak on behalf of Cordelia, Lear banishes him from the kingdom.

Meanwhile, the King of France present at the court and overwhelmed by Cordelia’s

honesty asks for her hand in marriage. Cordelia accepts the King of France’s proposal and

leaves Lear. Kent although banished by Lear remains in the kingdom to protect the unwitting

King from his two remaining daughters. He took a job as Lear’s servant. Now Lear has turned

over all his wealth and land to Regan and Goneril, their true nature’s surface at once.

Gloucester arrives back at Regan’s castle in time to hear that the two sisters are

planning to murder the King. He rushes away immediately to warn Kent to send Lear to Dover

where they will find protection. Kent, Lear and the Fool left. Sadly, Regan and Goneril discover

Gloucester has warned Lear of their plot, and Cornwall, Regan’s husband hit in the eyes of

Gloucester. A servant tries to help him and attacks Cornwall with a sword later resulted in a

fatal.

hlg7.

weebly

.com

Soon the news arrives that Cordelia has raised an army of French that landed at Dover.

Meanwhile, the Kent has heard the news of Cordelia’s return, and sets off with Lear hoping that

father and daughter can be reunited. Gloucester too tries to make his way to Dover and on the

way, he finds his lost son, Edgar.

Tired from his ordeal, Lear sleeps through the battle between Cordelia and her sisters.

When Lear awakes he is told that Cordelia has been defeated. Lear takes the news well,

thinking that he will be jailed with his beloved Cordelia. However, the orders have come, not for

Cordelia’s imprisonment but for her death.

hlg7.

weebly

.com

Oedipus The King

Oedipus Rex, also known by its Greek title, Oedipus Tyrannus (Ancient Greek), or

Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed around 429 BC.

Originally, to the ancient Greeks, the title was simply Oedipus as it is referred to by Aristotle in

the Poetics. It is thought to have been renamed Oedipus Tyrannus to distinguish it from Oedipus

at Colonus. In antiquity, the term “tyrant” referred to a ruler, but it did not necessarily have a

negative connotation. Of his three Theban plays that have survived, and that deal with the story

of Oedipus, Oedipus Rex was the second to be written. However, in terms of the chronology of

events that the plays describe, it comes first, followed by Oedipus at Colonus and then

Antigone. Prior to the start of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus has become the king of Thebes while

unwittingly fulfilling a prophecy that he would kill his father, Laius (the previous king), and

marry his mother, Jocasta whom Oedipus took as his queen after solving the riddle of the

Sphinx. The action of Sophocles' play concerns Oedipus' search for the murderer of Laius in

order to end a plague ravaging Thebes, unaware that the killer he is looking for is none other

than himself. At the end of the play, after the truth finally comes to light, Jocasta hangs herself

while Oedipus, horrified at his patricide and incest, proceeds to gouge out his own eyes in

despair. Oedipus Rex is regarded by many scholars as the masterpiece of ancient Greek tragedy.

In his Poetics, Aristotle refers several times to the play in order to exemplify aspects of the

genre.

hlg7.

weebly

.com

The Duchess of Malfi

The Duchess of Malfi is a tragic play written by the English dramatist John Webster in

1612 – 13 and published in 1623. It was first performed privately at The Blackfriars Theatre and

then later to a large audience at The Globe.

The play opens as the recently widowed Duchess falls in love with Antonio, a lowly

steward; but her brothers, not wishing her to share their inheritance, deny her from

remarrying. She secretly marries Antonio and bears him several children.

Duchess’ lunatic brother Ferdinand threatens and disowns her. In an attempt to escape,

Duchess and Antonio plotted a story. She takes Bosola into her confidence, not knowing that he

is Ferdinand’s spy, and arranges that he will deliver her jewelry to Antonio at his hiding place

and she will join them later. The Cardinal hears the plan and instructs Bosola to banish the two

lovers, and sends soldiers to capture them. Antonio escapes with their eldest son; but Duchess,

her maid and her two younger children are returned to Malfi. And under the instructions from

Ferdinand, dies at the hands of Bosola’s executioners. This experience and his own feeling of a

lack of identity turn Bosola against the Cardinal and his brother. He decided to take up the

cause of “Revenge for the Duchess of Malfi.”

The Cardinal confesses to his mistress Julia about his part in the killing of Duchess and

then murders her to silence her. Bosola heard Cardinal plotting to kill him and so he visits the

darkened chapel to kill the Cardinal. But by mistake he kills Antonio who has just returned to

Malfi. Meanwhile Bosola stabs Cardinal who dies soon. In the brawl Ferdinand and Bosola both

stabs each other resulting into to the death. Antonio’s elder son by Duchess appears in the final

scene and takes his place as the heir to the Malfi fortune.

Webster's poetic language, ensure that The Duchess of Malfi is considered among the

greatest tragedies of English renaissance drama.