Elements of Shakespearean Tragedies: Greatest Achievements of Dramatic Artistry

"I hope you agree that, in studying a Shakespearian drama, we must...do our best to understand, exactly what Shakespeare's dramatic purposes are, before we even begin to explore how the play came to be constructed."-

Dover Wilson (1881 - 1969)

British academic and critic, 1934.

 

The Hero though they introduce a long list of dramatic personae, Shakespeare’s tragedies are ultimately concerned with only one character – the hero – whose fortunes are its real theme. Shakespeare’s heroes are among the most powerful studies of human nature in all literature and appropriately stand as the greatest achievements of his dramatic artistry. The other characters, though sufficiently interesting in themselves, serve only to provide the links in the story of his fate. 

William Shakespeare

It is not without significance that all the four chief tragedies are named after the principal figure. In the love – tragedies, Romeo and Juliet and Antony and Cleopatra, a pair of lovers – the hero and the heroine – dominate the action, and appropriately give their names to the play. None of the four tragedies we have chosen has love for its theme. Their theme is, rather, hatred and revenge, jealousy and suspicion, envy and ingratitude, ambition and intrigue. Most of the Heroes, Shakespeare’s tragic hero is not an ordinary mortal. He is not a superman, like the hero in a play of Marlowe’s but his rank of gifts raise him above the characters, and what happens to him is of public importance. Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark, Lear is King of Britain, and Macbeth and Othello, when we first meet them, are distinguished soldiers. 

Shakespeare’s tragic hero is a man of many noble qualities with one flaw that causes his ruin. Hamlet has ‘the courtier’s soldier’s scholar’s eye, tongue, sword,’ but he suffers from an indecision that is in the end disastrous. Othello is a ‘noble and valiant general’, whom the ‘full senate of Venice call all-in-all sufficient’, but he is a slave to jealousy. Macbeth is ‘a peerless kinsman’, ‘too full of the milk of human kindness’, but he is possessed of ‘black and deep desires’ that lead him to destruction. Lear is ‘every inch a king’; it is his violent temper and lack of judgment that prove his undoing. It is true that Macbeth was egged on to his crimes by his wife, and that Iago worked upon Othello, but the fatal in their characters was there in the first place. 

Highlights--Shakespearean tragedies represent some of the greatest achievements in dramatic artistry. Key elements that contribute to their enduring significance include:

👀Complex Characters: Shakespeare crafts multi-dimensional characters like Hamlet and Macbeth, whose inner conflicts and flaws drive the tragic narrative, making them relatable and unforgettable.

👀Universal Themes: His tragedies grapple with timeless themes like ambition, jealousy, and the consequences of unchecked power, resonating with audiences across centuries.

👀Masterful Language: Shakespeare's poetic language and soliloquies elevate the emotional impact, enriching the audience's understanding of characters' inner turmoil.

👀Catharsis: These tragedies offer a cathartic experience, stirring deep emotions and prompting introspection, leaving a lasting mark on the world of dramatic literature.

Ardhendu De

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