History+Tragedy

Historical Maddy Bynes

Tragedy has matured through out history since the times of Aristotle. Aristotle predicted that history would change Tragedy and the showing of it, “Aristotle speaks of the need for mature tragedy to have a complex action by which he meant that reversal and recognition result logically from a change in fortune” (Outline for the History of Tragedy). Tragedy changed because of the history of the world. Christianity’s impact was second to none on tragedy in literature because of the acceptance of fate. Fate plays a huge role in tragedy because tragedy is the struggle to accept fate. Additionally, tragedy touches on the concept of obey. The Church wanted society to obey the social and cultural norms making tragedy popular because it obeyed what the church wanted.

These tragedies have impacted the culture, which in turn impacts the historical aspect of society and writing. An About.com article on Classical Writing states, “ It had now become a not uncommon thing for boys at the large schools to act in regular dramatic fashion, at first in Latin, afterward in English translation, some of the plays of the Latin comedians which had long formed a part of the school curriculum” (Fletcher). Because teens and adults see these influences in the books they read and the movies they watch, it has impacted how society veiws its self. Fletcher states, “a not uncommon thing” showing that frequently these tragedies and other writing influences effect culture. When culture has been effected, it turns to government. In recent history there have been many cases of just that; for instance when First Lady Regan did not want people to be in hair bands so she started a campaign against it in the 1980’s. This act of taking on what we see mold society which molds the politics in which society thrives on. By doing so, this effect changes the government and alters history. Works Cited:

OUTLINE FOR THE HISTORY OF TRAGEDY followed by EXCERPTS FROM PRIMARY SOURCES: ARISTOTLE TO BALDWIN AND THE VATICAN. Web. 8 November 2011.

Fletcher, Robert. "Chapter VI. The Drama From About 1550 To 1642." About.com. Web. 7 Nov. 2011.