Shakespearean tragedy encompasses most of William Shakespeare's tragic plays. While some of his historical plays possess the qualities of a Shakespearean tragedy, they were categorized as "histories" in the First Folio due to their basis on real figures from English history. On the other hand, the Roman tragedies like Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, and Coriolanus, which are also rooted in historical figures, tend to be classified as tragedies because their sources come from foreign and ancient history.
As for Shakespeare's romances, also known as tragicomic plays, they were written later in his career and were published as either tragedy or comedy. These works share certain tragic elements, such as featuring central characters of high status, but ultimately end on a happier note similar to Shakespearean comedies.
Interestingly, even after almost three centuries since Shakespeare's passing, the scholar F. S. Boas introduced a fifth category known as the "problem play" to accommodate plays that don't fit neatly into a single classification due to their unique subject matter, setting, or ending.
The classification of certain Shakespeare plays remains a subject of ongoing debate among scholars.
TRAGEDIES
Antony and Cleopatra
Coriolanus
Cymbeline
Hamlet
Julius Caesar
King Lear
Macbeth
Othello
Romeo and Juliet
Timon of Athens
Titus Andronicus
Troilus and Cressida
Shakespeare can be likened to the Michelangelo of literature, as he masterfully crafted characters in his plays with remarkable depth and complexity. For instance, in the play Othello, written four centuries ago, he portrayed characters like Iago, who embodies a modern psychopath, and Cassio, who represents a modern alcoholic. These characters are incredibly well-developed, much like Michelangelo's sculpted figure of David.
During the Renaissance, Greek drama served as a crucial model for drama, moving away from the flat and unrealistic morality plays of the medieval era. Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, defined tragedy as the noblest and most serious form of drama, and many Renaissance plays bore similarities to Greek tragedies. Shakespeare's works also featured central protagonists who faced challenging ordeals, leading to their eventual downfall and demise.
Watching Shakespearean dramas evokes a unique emotional experience in the audience, similar to the effect of tragedy described by Aristotle. As a result, these plays have traditionally been labeled as tragedies by critics, a classification that persists to this day. However, some scholars and enthusiasts have a different perspective on Shakespeare's plays, questioning the strict adherence to the 'Shakespearean tragedy' label. Unfortunately, some teachers still approach these plays as if they were strictly following Aristotelian tragedy, missing the multifaceted aspects that make these works truly remarkable and profound.
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