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