What is Tragedy

      

What is Tragedy?

• Tragic

theory in the sixteenth century consisted mainly of a set of prescriptive rules derived from Senecan and Fall of Princes practice. Critics such as Puttenham and Sidney emphasized that tragedy is ‘high and excellent’ in subject and style, does not meddle with base (i.e., domestic and plebeian )matters or mingle kings and clowns. It uncovers hidden corruption and shows the characteristic conduct and the deserved punishments of tyrants. Dealing with ‘the dole full falls of infortunate & afflicted Princes’, it ‘teacheth the uncertainty of this world, and upon how weak foundations gilden roofs are builded’. It excites feelings of ‘admiration and commiseration’, wonder and pity (McAachern,4, 5).

Aristotle's Definition of Tragedy

Furthermore, all tragic heroes have a tragic flaw, or hamartia, that leads to their downfall in such a way as not to offend the audience's sense of justice. The tragedy must have an emotional effect on its audience and "through pity and fear" effect a catharsis-that is, by the play's end, the audience's emotions should be purged, purified, or clarified. (What Aristotle really meant by catharsis is debatable; see glossary entry for further details.) The universal, not the particular, should be stressed. Unlike history that deals with what happens, poetry or tragedy deals with what could happen and is. therefore, closer to perfection or truth than history itself. The poet must give close attention to diction or language, be it in verse, prose, or song; but ultimately, it is the thoughts expressed through language that are of the utmost concern ( Bressler,23 ).

• Tragedy

is when you have no one to support you in the most difficult time of your life and find that the responsibility falls on you for no reason. Tragedy is when your best friends fail you and your loved ones leave you. Your family doesn't care about your existence and you can't find anyone to hug you to express your inner sadness. This causes mental problems, lack of will to live and lack of concentration. Man is a body without a soul (Murad, p3).

Reference:

1-McAlindon , Tom . What is a Shakespearean tragedy? Cambridge. University of Cambridge, 2020.

2-Bressler , charles E. Literary Criticism, Boston, pearson, 2011.

3-Murad,Baneen. Love and Tragedy in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. College of Art  English Department,2024.

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