Tragedy
The word genre Genre - from the French meaning category or type Not all plays fall into a single genre, but it helps us to understand the genres as a general basis for approaching art, music, theatre and literature.
The Greeks Classic Comedy and Tragedy images The Greeks saw Tragedy and Comedy as the only two distinct types of work Modern scholars see sub-genres including romance and satire/irony The Tragedy/Comedy masks that symbolize theatre come from the Greek belief that literature (for them literature was theatre) was ruled by the central forces of Tragedy and Comedy
The Seasons and Frye Northrop Frye (1912-1991) World-renowned literary theorist connected the genres as representational of the real world He connected them to the four seasons
The Frye Cycle of Modes and Seasons
The Fall = Tragedy The season associated with Tragedy is the FALL as Tragedy is often about the fall of the individual and society, when the coldness of the real world sets in and death is all around. It is literally, the season of fall and the fall of humanity However, a society s individual beliefs greatly influence their idea of what is meant by Tragedy.
Defining Tragedy Generally speaking, Tragedy can be defined as -- Serious drama involving important personages caught in calamitous circumstances; it evokes in the audience fear and apprehension for the suffering characters and admiration for the courage they display (Theatre: the Lively Art, p. 136)
Generally, Tragedy... probes the nature of human existence assumes the universe is indifferent to human concerns and often malevolent highlights that the innocent suffer and the evil prosper
Political/Religious/Societal Factors The political/religious/societal factors of a culture will effect the way Tragedy is created in a culture s literature: - In the happiest of times the least amount of Tragedy is written
Mediaeval Time - 500-1500 CE A lot of religious control and therefore a lot of piety - theatre was of and for the church The time and therefore the theatre was positive ( Miracle Plays which taught of the goodness in humanity and God as well as Liturgical Drama which taught the doctrines of the church) Theatre at this time was about good defeating bad Therefore, limited Tragic writing
The Enlightenment 18th C and The Industrial Revolution 19th C Great societal advancements that made life easier and more enjoyable for the everyday person Astronomy was an advancement of the Enlightenment Science and the arts were celebrated Optimistic societies where the best of humanity was celebrated Therefore, limited Tragic writing The Steam Engine powered the Industrial Revolution
Conversely - There have been times when the conditions and climate for Tragedy have been ripe and this is generally when the society becomes brutally aware of two things: 1. Humans are capable of extraordinary things AND 2. The world is potentially cruel and unjust These TWO factors when COMBINED in a society s climate tend to lead to the production of a good deal of Tragic drama. (18th and 19th C only had the first factor; therefore, less Tragedy).
The Golden Age of Greece (5thC, BCE) AND The Renaissance (14th - 17th C) During these two times humans excelled and religion took a back seat to human achievement (factor 1) AND... There was also a great awareness of how cruel life can be (factor 2) Architecture was an earmark of Greek skill - Ancient Greece was plagued by great wars which killed many citizens (including the Greek civil war) - The Renaissance was plagued by the Black Death which reminded people of their own mortality and the strength of nature over humanity. Lorenzo de Midici was ruler of Florence and a patron of the arts
The mix of the two central factors (human possibility and the ultimate sadness that exists) act as the background for theatre. It is the artist that then creates the theatre based on his/her individual outlook And this is why there is some comedy produced during times when Tragedy is most prevalent.
Two generally accepted types of Tragedy - 1. Traditional Tragedy AND 2. Modern Tragedy
Traditional Tragedy has... Tragic heroes/heroines who are usually higher than the individual (Gods, Queens, Kings) Tragic circumstances that have to be followed (fate) Tragic irretrievability (a sense of no turning back) Acceptance of the individual s responsibility (willingness to admit fault and suffer consequences) Tragic verse (dealing with lofty and profound ideas using lofty and profound language and format) A pessimistic effect (damned if I do, damned if I don t) coupled with an affirmation of the good in the world (seen through the actual act of writing the play and the sadness found within - we are not pleased with the outcome, and thereofore, we are good)
Modern Tragedy has... No Gods, Queens, or Kings as the central tragic figures, but instead the central figures are everday schmoes like you and me Modernity, industrialism and the computer age are the forces of inevitability that replace fate Prose writing - the language of the everyday schmoe An even more pessimistic tone than Traditional Tragedy as it suggests humanity may well be doomed
Hope from the ashes Although there is a real sense of hopelessness in Tragedy, there is still hope: Hope springs eternal from the ashes of the fallen because: 1. The very existence of the hero and his or her struggle reminds us that there is goodness in the world 2. Our own pathos or feelings of sadness for the characters reminds us that we care about life and about goodness If we didn t care there would be no Tragedy
Three central questions asked, but left unanswered in Tragedy 1. Why do we suffer? WWII and the dropping of the Atomic Bomb caused incredible suffering - but for what reason? 2. Why is there violence and injustice in the world? Violence is everywhere 3. What is the meaning of life? This question has plagued us since the dawn of humanity