SH+P4+2015+Tragedy



Audience: Bailey Callan At the time tragedies were being written and performed, Greece, Rome, and the other parts of the world were facing social inequality. There was no real way to properly lead a country and as a result, most empires were crumbling due to poor leadership and treatment of the people, a large majority of the people was lower class. The author proposes “And the soul, being, at the same time, roused by passion, and charmed by eloquence, feels on the whole a strong movement, which is altogether delightful” (Hume 3). The tragedies allowed for the people to get away for a few hours and forget about their lives. The plays were an escape for people struggling, whether from everyday injustices, or the cruel acts brought upon them from the government. The audience was anyone looking to get away from their lives. It allowed for them to drop what they were doing and have a few hours for their pain to go away and feel free. Tragedies allow for an escape, to forget about your problems and to be absorbed into a deep story, this is why so many people looked forward to these as relief.

Hume, David. "Of Tragedy." N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2015. Aim: Emma Carruth The aim of a tragedy is to provide people with a sense of passion and sorrow when they experience a play. One author explains “Aristotle wrote that the purpose of Tragedy is to evoke a wonder born of pity and fear, the result of which is cathartic. As audience members we should sympathize with the protagonist, possibly recognizing in him/her our own human weaknesses” (Hodgson). When Shakespeare wrote his tragedies, he wanted to evoke emotions in the people experiencing his writings. Shakespeare brought out a sense of humanity with his tragedies. He connected with his readers or viewers and as a result, they sympathized with the characters. Tragedies were originally treated as a kind of ceremony instead of entertainment for people. In the past, part of the aim of tragedies was to honor gods and mythological heros. Although, there are many different purposes for a tragedy, the main connotation and aim of the word is to make people have passion and to know what suffering feels like.

Works Cited: Hodgson, John W., Dr. "Understanding Dramatic Tragedy." Understanding Dramatic Tragedy. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.



Ashley: Historical Implications Tragedies have been created from Greek times and have been altered since then until now. The impact history has had on tragedies has altered in formats, yet keeping tragic ideals the same. An article explains,“Historically, tragedy of a high order has been created in only four periods and locales: Attica, in Greece, in the 5th century bce; England in the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I, from 1558 to 1625; 17th-century France; and Europe and America during the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th. Each period saw the development of a special orientation and emphasis, a characteristic style of theatre. In the modern period, roughly from the middle of the 19th century, the idea of tragedy found embodiment in the collateral form of the novel” (Conversi). Tragedies originated in Greece and have been altered through history. There are four major time periods where tragedies developed further. Each periods of history used “emphasis” and an alike “style of theatre.” History has especially impacted and changed the style of how tragedies were represented. The more modern tragedies were “embodiment” in the “novel.” There has been changes due to history, but the ideals of tragedies have stayed the same.

Conversi, Leonard W. "Tragedy Literature." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Mar. 2014. Web. 27 Oct. 2015.

Jacob: Cultural Implications The analysis of tragedy is different among cultures due to the strong feelings that tragedy evokes, and the current acceptance of a culture on those strong feelings. Conversi converses, “Although the word tragedy is often used loosely to describe any sort of disaster or misfortune, it more precisely refers to a work of art that probes with high seriousness questions concerning the role of man in the universe” (Conversi). Within tragedy, the strong persuasion comes from the strong feelings conveyed to the modern culture. Strong feeling can often be confused, due to humanity’s discomfort with dealing with them. The strong feeling informs the public, however, with the raw bits of mankind. This allows for the modern time to reach a primal sense, and allows for better relation among all. The effect of tragedy on culture gives a new meaning to strong feelings, and how it is seen as the whole of humanity when it is revealed in its true form. Works Cited Conversi. “Tragedy.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. //Encyclopedia Britannica//, 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.