English
Tragedy and comedy.
Definition
Tragedy and comedy are the two foundational genres of drama. A tragedy follows a noble protagonist whose flaw or error leads to downfall and suffering, evoking pity and fear. A comedy typically involves ordinary characters overcoming obstacles, features misunderstandings or wit, and ends happily, often with marriage or reconciliation.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 Tragedy: Shakespeare's Hamlet — a prince's indecision leads to the deaths of nearly every major character
- 2 Comedy: Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream — lovers get tangled up by fairy magic but all ends in marriage
- 3 Modern tragedy: Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman — Willy Loman's delusions destroy his family and himself
Key Fact
Aristotle defined tragedy as producing catharsis — the purging of pity and fear in the audience.