The Comedic Tragedy Of A Tragic Comedy - 1590 Words

The Comedic Tragedy of a Tragic Comedy William Shakespeare was always known for the vast range of narrative skills that his writing exemplified. When one thinks of his plays a plethora of different genres come to mind. Shakespeare had a knack for writing plays that could be classified by genres on each end of the spectrum and in between as well. His repertoire includes heartfelt comedies, all the way to the other extreme, which are drama-filled tragedies. Each genre brings about a necessity for different literary devices as well as some unique language that can influence the plot in many different ways. Shakespeare has an interesting way of fusing those two genres together, and sometimes even totally changing the genre throughout the story and having it end as a totally different genre than what it started out as. This technique gives the piece of work entirely new depth as well as a new angle where the plot could take a turn. The outcome of this is that the reader can never be sure how a Shakespearean play will end, thus, instilling in the reader a sense of wonder and mystery as they read through the play. Specifically, in his early and arguably most famous play, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare gives you a common comedy of two star-crossed lovers, destined to be united in love and subtly turns it into a tragedy that ends terribly for the two of them. When the themes and plot points in Romeo and Juliet are analyzed it can be inferred that had Shakespeare stuck to theShow MoreRelatedComparing Jez Butterworth s 2009 Traditional Three Act1097 Words   |  5 Pagestraditional three-act play â€Å"Jerusalem† is composed of both comedic and tragic elements. Through what initially seems a play with â€Å"hilarious comedic routines† at the beginning, as it progresses, Butterworth inter winds â€Å"darker undertones†, such as sexual abuse and underage drinking. By the end of act 3, the audience is faced with an inconclusive ending which we can only a ssume is Johnny s suicide, showing that the play can no longer be just a comedy. As Charles Spencer writing for the Daily Telegraph inRead MoreMeasure for Measure: The Dark Comedy829 Words   |  4 PagesThe Dark Comedy of Measure for Measure nbsp; Measure for Measure, the last of Shakespeares great comedies, is also the darkest of his comedies, and represents his transition to tragic plays. This play differs from Shakespeares other comedies, and is in many ways more akin to tragedy than to comedy. In setting, plot, and character development Measure for Measure has a tragic tone, however, because none of the main characters actually loses his life, this play is considered a comedy. nbsp;Read MoreDifferences Between a Tragedy and Comedy672 Words   |  3 Pagesthe differences of tragedy and comedy From what I can tell the difference between a good comedy and a good tragedy are the effects of the audiences intended to see or read. There are a few key differences that change them from one genre to the next and these differences really only rely on the hero to separate them from â€Å"comedy† to â€Å"tragedy†. What I notice is in the comedy the hero is normally playful and funny to a degree or at least until he is needed to take on a really serious role which evenRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1306 Words   |  6 PagesAs outlined in Aristotle’s Poetics, tragedies are meant to follow a specific structure. In a tragedy, heroic characters often give in to their various flaws and end up dying as a consequence, resulting in an outpouring of grief from the audience. Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is often cited as a prominent example of the tragical genre, with Romeo’s crime of passion against Tybalt resulting in the complication of his relationship with Juliet, and ultimately, the duo’s demise. However, despiteRead MoreComedy is an important aspect in Thomas King’s short story, â€Å"A Short History of Indians in Canada†,1600 Words   |  7 PagesComedy is an important aspect in Thomas King’s short story, â€Å"A Short History of Indians in Canada†, as well as Ernest Hemingway’s short story, â€Å"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place.† The differing purposes of humour in these two short stories are what separates them in terms of the effect comedy has on the writing. Thomas King integrates satire, a form of humourous ridicule, to convey the inability of the Native population to adapt to white civilization and the demeaning, yet normal opinion that the whiteRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream And Romeo And Juliet1502 Words   |  7 Pages The Shakespearean notion of comedy and tragedy have been interpreted by countless critics as absolute contra dictions of one another. For instance, there is a belief that the everlastingly romantic tale of Romeo and Juliet is unambiguously a tragedy, just as A Midsummer Night’s Dream is undoubtedly a comedy. Each possesses separate, defining, characteristics which drastically alter the storyline of a play, and develop the end into either one of comedic proportion: in which there is the promise ofRead MoreWilliam Beckett s Waiting For Godot947 Words   |  4 Pagesacts of comedy are dispersed through the tragedy. which provides a physical act to be performed on stage, as well as expanding the depth of the ideas presented. Beckett uses the tragicomedy style to demonstrate how tragedy and comedy are two of the most important parts of life, and to provide a shocking and stark contrast between ideas presented in the play. Dramatically, the comedic moments offset the gloom around the characters. The actors use the few props they have to mix the comedy into theRead MoreA Midsummer Night s Dream And The Taming Of The Shrew1254 Words   |  6 PagesA comedic story can be summed up as one thing; a hero who triumphs over evil and wins the day. In these tales, our main character encounters around one hardship and overcomes it with much ease. The ancient Greek playwrights had a similar view on comedic tales: in order for something to be a comedy, the main character must reach a positive outcome. So no matter what comes their way, our hero will be in a better spot than he was at the beginning. Well-known comedies include A Midsummer Night s DreamRead MoreEssay on Comedy vs. Tragedy876 Words   |  4 Pagesall his works, the most popular styles were comedies and tragedies. These polar opposites appealed to many because of the way they brought the story to life. The same story written in both of these styles could have a completely different effect on the audience based on the style used. Although completely dissimilar, the two styles did have some similarities, which kept them in the Shakespearian style. Shakespeare’s more widely known comedy and tragedy, The Twelfth Night and Macbeth, respectivelyRead MoreThe Differences Between Comedy and Tragedy996 Words   |  4 PagesThe Differences Between Comedy and Tragedy â€Å"Comedy is tragedy plus time.† – Lester in Crimes and Misdemeanors (Rayner Online). â€Å"Satire is tragedy plus time. You give it enough time the public the reviewers will allow you to satire it. Which is rather ridiculous when you think about it.† – Lenny Bruce (Rayner Online). â€Å"Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into a sewer and die.† – Mel Brooks in 2000 Year Old Man (Rayner Online). There are many people who share the opinions