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Shakespearean TragedyShakespearean Tragedy
The Tragic StoryThe Tragic Story
Shakespeare's tragedies are primarily the stories Shakespeare's tragedies are primarily the stories of one person, the ‘hero’of one person, the ‘hero’
The two exceptions to this rule are (R&J and The two exceptions to this rule are (R&J and Cleopatra) which have both a tragic ‘hero’ and Cleopatra) which have both a tragic ‘hero’ and ‘heroine’‘heroine’
The tragic story depicts a troubled part of the The tragic story depicts a troubled part of the hero/heroine’s life which leads up to and includes hero/heroine’s life which leads up to and includes their deaththeir death
Suffering and calamity are constant themes in the Suffering and calamity are constant themes in the tragic storytragic story
The Tragic HeroThe Tragic Hero
Tragic Heroes are:Tragic Heroes are: Men of high standingMen of high standing The calamities that befall The calamities that befall
them are unusual and them are unusual and exceptionally disastrousexceptionally disastrous
The hero falls unexpectedly The hero falls unexpectedly from his place of high from his place of high standing due to a standing due to a tragic flawtragic flaw
The tragic hero is often The tragic hero is often influenced by mental influenced by mental instability (Hamlet), instability (Hamlet), supernatural elements supernatural elements (Macbeth, Hamlet) or ‘chance’ (Macbeth, Hamlet) or ‘chance’ (R&J)(R&J)
Tragic FlawsTragic Flaws
The hero’s tragic flaw often takes the form The hero’s tragic flaw often takes the form of obsession (revenge, greed, lust/love, of obsession (revenge, greed, lust/love, ambition, etc.)ambition, etc.)
The hero’s tragic flaw is the cause of the The hero’s tragic flaw is the cause of the calamities, tragedies and deaths that calamities, tragedies and deaths that occur in the storyoccur in the story
Symbolically, the flaw usually represents Symbolically, the flaw usually represents the heroes humanity or human frailtythe heroes humanity or human frailty
The Tragic Hero’s Internal ConflictThe Tragic Hero’s Internal Conflict
Although external conflicts Although external conflicts are present within are present within Shakespearean Tragedies, Shakespearean Tragedies, the most complex conflict the most complex conflict is the internal conflict of is the internal conflict of the tragic herothe tragic hero
The hero is torn by an The hero is torn by an inward struggle which inward struggle which causes perceived mental causes perceived mental instability and tragic instability and tragic actionsactions
Final NotesFinal Notes
Shakespearean audiences usually sympathize with the Shakespearean audiences usually sympathize with the tragic hero, as when they are introduced, they are men of tragic hero, as when they are introduced, they are men of good standing who befall challenging circumstancesgood standing who befall challenging circumstances
Shakespeare’s tragic heroes illustrate that men are not Shakespeare’s tragic heroes illustrate that men are not wholly ‘good’ or ‘bad’, and that ‘goodness/greatness’ can wholly ‘good’ or ‘bad’, and that ‘goodness/greatness’ can easily be wasted due to a tragic flaweasily be wasted due to a tragic flaw
Shakespeare’ tragic heroes are destined to fall from grace - Shakespeare’ tragic heroes are destined to fall from grace - despite the efforts of those around them to ‘save’ them despite the efforts of those around them to ‘save’ them from tragedy, and unfortunately tragedy will also befall all from tragedy, and unfortunately tragedy will also befall all those close to them, whether friend or foethose close to them, whether friend or foe