Shakespearean Tragedy: Heroes, fate and Flaws.pdf

Presentation on Shakespearean Tragedy: Heroes, Fate and Flaws

1. Shakespearean tragedy:
Heroes , fate and flaws .

2. William Shakespeare is one of the greatest poet and playwright in English
literature. He wrote 154 sonnets and about 38 plays, including comedies,
historical dramas, and tragedies. Some of his most famous tragedies are
Othello, Macbeth, etc.

3. Characteristics:-
1. The hero and the fatal flaw : Shakespearean tragedies are primarily hero-
oriented . The hero of a Shakespearean tragedy often belongs to a high
social rank but has a tragic flaw (also called hamartia) that leads to their
downfall. For example, Macbeth’s ambition and Othello’s jealousy bring
them to ruin.

4. 2. The Role of Fate: In these tragedies, fate plays a significant role. Characters may
try to change their destiny, but they often find themselves doomed from the start.
For example , in Romeo and Juliet, the lovers are described as “star-crossed,”
meaning their fate was sealed from the beginning.

5. 3. Supernatural Elements:Many of Shakespeare’s tragedies include
supernatural forces that add to the tension. In Macbeth, witches predict
Macbeth’s rise and fall, steering him toward a destructive path.

6. 4. Inevitable Death:Tragedies in Shakespeare’s plays usually end with the
death of the main character and often the death of many others. For
example, in Hamlet, not only does Hamlet die, but many of his loved ones
meet the same fate, as he seeks revenge for his father’s murder.

7. 5.No Poetic Justice:Unlike other stories where the good are rewarded and
the bad punished, Shakespeare’s tragedies often lack poetic justice.
Innocent characters suffer alongside the guilty. In Macbeth, Lady Macduff
and her children are murdered despite their innocence.

8. 6. Moral and Ethical Questions: Shakespeare’s tragedies explore deep
moral dilemmas. In Hamlet, for instance, the hero wrestles with questions of
justice, revenge, and duty.

9. 7. Presence of Blank verse and other poetic devices :
Most of the tragedies are written in blank verse with
the presence of poetic devices. Blank verse is an
unrhymed iambic pentameter and one of the most
influential innovations. Other poetic devices l, such
as imagery , alliteration, simile and metaphor are
also used.

10. 8. Struggle Between Good and Evil: Shakespeare’s tragedies often explore
the conflict between good and evil, highlighting how characters are torn
between virtuous choices and darker impulses.

11. 9. Comic Relief: To balance the heavy and dark
themes, Shakespeare introduced moments of comic
relief. These humorous scenes provide the audience
with brief despite amidst the tension.

12. Despite deviating from Aristotle’s classical norms of unity of time and unity of
place, Shakespeare’s tragedies remain timeless and are still performed on stages
around the world today. This flexibilities allowed Shakespeare to explore his
characters' thoughts and emotions, as well as the human experience, in a way
that still connects with audiences, even after all these years.