A Survey of Tragedy - 984 Words

A Survey of Tragedy A modern tragedy of today and a tragedy of ancient Greece are two very different concepts, but ironically, both are linked by many similarities. In â€Å"Poetics†, Aristotle defines and outlines tragedy for theatre in a way that displays his genius, but raises questions and creates controversy. Aristotle’s famous definition of tragedy states: â€Å"A tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious, and also as having magnitude, complete in itself in language with pleasurable accessories, each kind brought in separately in the parts of the work; in a dramatic, not in a narrative form: with incidents arousing pity and fear; wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions.† I believe Aristotle’s meaning of â€Å"Imitate†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦show more content†¦In â€Å"Oedipus the King†, Sophocles’ characterization of the protagonist is in near perfect compliance with the traits Aristotle outlined in â€Å"Poetics†. In the first scene, the foundation is laid showing King Oedipus as a good and kind King. He speaks with the city elder, showing his compassion and promising to relieve the city of Thebes of a plague. As the story line plays out, Oedipus’s character flaws of anger and compulsiveness begin to appear. These defects force the king into situations he would have be en better to avoid, including his own fate death or banishment. When an Oracle reveals the prophecy that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus leaves his comfortable life with King Polybus of Corinth and his wife Merope, who he believes are his biological parents. On his way to the city of Thebes, Oedipus kills a stranger on the road who turns out to be Laius, King of Thebes and unbeknownst to him, his biological father. When Oedipus arrives in Thebes he saves the city from the curse of the Sphinx, as a result is made King and marries the dead King’s Queen, Jocasta, his mother, thus fulfilling the prophecy. Oedipus is a victim of his own destiny and despite doing everything right; there’s nothing he could have done that would have changed his life. Studying â€Å"Oedipus the King† and â€Å"Death of a Salesman†, playsShow MoreRelatedEugene O’neill and the the Rebirth of Tragedy a Comparative Survey on Mourning Becomes Elect ra and Oresteia2317 Words   |  10 Pagesadmirer of classical theatre and as a young man he had read Friedrich Nietzsche’s work about the origin of Greek tragedy, in consequence he was very familiar with the subject and the techniques of representation. The ideas of the German critique and philosopher guided his dramatic works, in which he manifested the ability to adapt the defining characteristics of the classical tragedy to a modern script and audience. Thus, it is not surprising that we encounter God Dionysus in â€Å"Lazarus Laughed† (1928)Read MoreThe Tragedy Of Hurricane Katrina Essay1599 Words   |  7 PagesMass tragedies occur on a daily basis in almost every nook and cranny of the world. No matter the severity, they all appear to have a similar effect: deterioration of mental health stability among those involved. Children and adults alike possess the risk of suffering from mental disorders, such as depression and PTSD, following exposure to a traumatic event. However, the circumstances of these events differ, simply because not all mass tragedies are the same. No matter what type of event occursRead MoreBlack And White: The Reason Why Gun Control Debate Fails 1457 Words   |  6 PagesGun control has been being a controversial topic for many years that people try to discuss about it. 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