{"id":6516,"date":"2026-01-25T07:12:23","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T07:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afflatuscreations.com\/?page_id=6516"},"modified":"2026-01-25T07:26:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T07:26:50","slug":"features-of-shakespearean-tragedies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/afflatuscreations.com\/index.php\/features-of-shakespearean-tragedies\/","title":{"rendered":"Features of Shakespearean Tragedies"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Article Received: 10\/08\/2025
Article Accepted: 28\/09\/2025
Published Online: 30\/09\/2025<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Features of \u00a0Shakespearean Tragedies<\/strong><\/h3>

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Dr. Deen Dayal<\/p>

Asst. Prof. of English<\/p>

LSSSS Govt. P.G. College Mant,<\/p>

Mathura , Uttar Pradesh, India<\/p>

Tragedy<\/strong><\/p>

The word \u2018Tragedy\u2019<\/em> comes from Greek word \u2018tragodia<\/em>\u2019 meaning \u2018goat song<\/em>\u2019 related to sacrifice of goat made at the time of spring festival to worship the god \u2018Dionysus<\/em>\u2019. The word \u2018tragoidia<\/em>\u2019 is made up of two words- \u2018tragos<\/em>\u2019 meaning \u2018he goat<\/em>\u2019\u00a0 and \u2018oide<\/em>\u2019 meaning \u2018a song<\/em>\u2019. Therefore, tragedy was a \u2018goat song<\/em>\u2019 sung when \u2018he goat<\/em>\u2019 was led to alter for sacrifice.<\/p>

Tragedy comes from old French word \u2018tragedie\u2019 via Latin from Greek \u2018tragoidia\u2019.<\/p>

Tragedy is built up of two Greek roots- \u2018tragos<\/em>\u2019 meaning \u2018goat<\/em>\u2019 and \u2018oide<\/em>\u2019, literary meaning \u2018goat song<\/em>\u2019\u00a0 that refers to dramatic plays of ancient Greeks named for actors dressed in skins of goat.<\/p>

A Tragedy is a serious play or narrative in which a hero becomes engaged in a conflict, and experiences great sufferings and finally he is defeated and dies.<\/p>

In Geek Drama, tragedy was the species dealt with the sad story of death, killing, and contained elevated language and action. Characters are involved in such circumstances that take them to an unhappy fate to arise the feelings of pity and terror.\u00a0<\/p>

A Tragedy involves disastrous events, calamity, misfortune, typically describing a conflict between the protagonist and superior force (destiny) having a sorrowful or disastrous ending that arises the feelings of pity and terror.\u00a0<\/p>

Shakespeare Tragedies involve serious actions lead to the downfall of main characters called tragic heroes. Disastrous, final output involves the death of hero and many others.<\/p>

\u00a0In \u2018Poetics<\/em>\u2019, ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle<\/strong> defined Tragedy as morally ambiguous (having more than possible ways) genre in which a noble hero goes from\u00a0 good fortune to bad.<\/p>

According to Aristotle<\/strong>, a tragic hero can\u2019t be totally evil or purely good, but must be a character between the two extremes.<\/p>

Aristotle<\/strong> defines Tragedy as, \u201can imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of certain <\/em>hero of noble statue whose fortune is reverse as a result of weakness in an otherwise noble nature.<\/p>

Tragedy in England began in \u2018Elizabethan Age (16th century)<\/em>\u2019 that involves the chief influences, dramatic tradition and theory- classical- The poetics of Aristotle and tragedies by Roman philosopher, Seneca<\/strong>.<\/p>

In the late part of 16th century, the playwrights produced dramas varied widely in form and structure that include\u00a0 Shakespearean tragedies- \u2018King Lear (1608)<\/em>\u2019, \u2018Hamlet (1603)<\/em>\u2019 and \u2018Macbeth (1623)<\/em>\u2019.<\/p>

After 17th century, again tragedies in Classical or Aristotelian<\/strong> sense were written that involved serious work tragic in tone and intention.<\/p>

Macbeth Hubris or his excessive magnitude…through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation (catharsis) of these emotions<\/em>.\u201d In Act 2, Macbeth murders king Duncan. He chooses bloody path to secure his throne.<\/p>

Tragedies\u00a0 end towards more serious dramatic plots. In Act III Scene 2 Macbeth works as a villain. His ambitions overpower him and lead him for further terrible deeds. Macbeth decides to murder Banquo and Fleance.\u00a0 Macbeth says to lady Macbeth in utter unhappiness;<\/p>

\u201cWe have scorched the snake, nor killed it.<\/p>

\u2026<\/p>

But let the frame of things disjoint, both the worlds suffer\u201d (Line 15-20)<\/p>

Macbeth\u2019s power and brutality is seen in Act 3. The Act is true climax point in which Macbeth murders\u00a0 Banquo and Fleance escapes.\u00a0<\/p>

The classical concept of Tragedy, as defined by Aristotle in his Poetics <\/strong>involves a<\/p>

pride becomes his dominant character. His over boldness and his personality invincibility push him for a tragic fall in Act IV Scene 1.<\/p>

In Act V, Scene 8, Macbeth has a duel fight with Macduff.\u00a0 This is final confrontation and climax point. This Act is final moment of Hubris and his despair. He chooses to fight rather than surrender. He utters to Macduff;<\/p>

\u201cI will not yield,<\/p>

To kiss the ground before young Malcolm\u2019s feet,<\/p>

And to be baited with the rabble\u2019s curse\u201d<\/p>

\u00a0The main Features of a Shakespearean Tragedies<\/p>

The main features of a Shakespearean Tragedies are:<\/p>

Tragedy must end in some tremendous catastrophe, the death of the principal character.<\/p>

The catastrophe must not be the result of mere accident, but must be brought about by some essential traits in the character of the hero acting either directly or through its effect on other persons.<\/p>

According to Aristotle,<\/strong> the spectacle rouses in us pity and fear and purges us of these emotions.<\/p>

Characters become isolated at last.<\/p>

There is usually a central figure or tragic hero who is noble, but character flaw leads him towards his eventual downfall and death. Tragic hero has a high rank or status and shows strength facing destiny.<\/p>

Combative Hero\u00a0 or Tragic Hero<\/p>

\u00a0Tragic Hero is a character in dramatic tragedy who has virtuous , sympathetic traits and heroic potentiality, but ultimately meets with suffering and defeat.<\/p>

He struggles against his fate and thinks he is fated by the gods or by some supernatural forces to doom or destruction.<\/p>

Aristotle analyses and describes the qualities of tragic Hero that is crucial part of tragedy.<\/p>

A tragic character is noble in both birth and manner. He has central flaws that eventually becomes his dooming.<\/p>

An ideal tragic hero should be good, but not too good or perfect because fall of perfect good man does not arouse pity.<\/p>

Similarly, an utterly wicked person is also lacking in proper tragic qualities.<\/p>

According to Aristotle, \u201cPerfect good as well as utterly wicked persons; are not suitable to be the heroes of the tragedies<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>

Drama requires a militant and combative hero. Othello is tragic hero because he fulfills key Aristotelian traits. He is a noble figure, but represents jealousy that leads to his downfall: killing his wife and himself. The play contains key elements of a tragic hero\u00a0 with qualities:\u00a0 Nobility, Hamartia, Peripeteia (Reversal), Anagnorisis (Recognition), and Catharsis. Othello\u2019s dignified speech, his bravery, his heroic reputation and his status as a valiant general prove him a hero with nobility. Hamartia (Tragic flaw) in Othello lies\u00a0 his trust\u00a0 in villainous Iago. It is his fatal judgment he believes in Iago over Desdemona without any reason and evidence. Due to his Trust in Iago, he suffers from internal struggle. Following lines proves his trust in Iago:<\/p>

\u201cHonest Iago<\/p>

My Desdemona must I leave to thee\u201d (Act I, Scene 3, 297-298).<\/p>

He declares:<\/p>

\u201cA man he is of honesty and trust\u201d (Act I Scene 3, 284).<\/p>

According to Aristotle, \u201cA tragic hero must be a person who occupies a position of lofty eminence in society. He must be well reputed and highly individual<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>

Shakespeare\u2019s \u2018Much Ado About Nothing\u2019 is a Comedy in which Claudio functions as tragic hero due to his noble status and fatal flaw (Hamartia). He mistakes in his judgment. He blindly believes in Don John\u2019s false accusations and thus fails to see deception.\u00a0 Claudio\u2019s Hubris (Excessive Pride)\u00a0 lies in his quick acceptance of dishonor and his willingness to punish himself. Claudio\u2019s\u00a0 key speech shows his credulity;<\/p>

\u201cBeauty is a witch<\/p>

Against whose charms faith melteth into blood\u201d (Act II, Scene 1)<\/p>

Following lines show his boasts:<\/p>

\u201cThe savage bull may, but if ever the sensible\u00a0 Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull\u2019s horns and set them in my forehead\u201d (Act I, Scene 1).<\/p>

A Tragic Hero must be essentially admirable and good. Demise of the hero must come as a result of some personal error or decision.\u00a0 An authentic tragedy must always be product of some fatal choice\u00a0 or action. A tragic hero must bear some responsibility for his own doom. Soliloquies in Tragedies are important parts.\u00a0 Hamlet\u2019s Soliloquies are crucial as they reveal his complex inner world. His indecision, struggles and grief.\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIn Hamlet, Soliloquy brings a compensating intimacy, and its use was an important part of Shakespeare\u2019s stagecraft. Its recognized usefulness was for the disclosing of the plot, but he soon improved upon this. Soliloquy becomes the means by which he brings us not only to a knowledge of the more secret thoughts of his characters, but into the closest emotional touch with them too\u201d (Preface to Shakespeare Hamlet, 16)<\/p>

Aristotle <\/strong>uses specific Greek words for showing qualities of tragic Hero that have become terms in literature. These terms are:<\/p>

  1. Shakespeare\u2019s Othello by Dr. B.B. Jain. Agra: Ratan Prakashan Mandir, 2000. Print.<\/li>
  2. Shakespeare\u2019s Macbeth by Rajender Paul. New Delhi: Rama Brothers India Pvt. Ltd. 2016. Print.<\/li>
  3. Preface to Shakespeare Volume 1. Hamlet by Harley Granville- Barker. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P)\u00a0 Print.<\/li>
  4. Shakespeare\u2019s Much Ado About Nothing by Raghukul Tilak. New Delhi:Rama Brothers India Pvt. Ltd. 2015. Prin<\/li><\/ol>

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    Article Received: 10\/08\/2025Article Accepted: 28\/09\/2025Published Online: 30\/09\/2025 \u00a0 Features of \u00a0Shakespearean Tragedies \u00a0 Dr. Deen Dayal Asst. Prof. of English LSSSS Govt. P.G. College Mant, Mathura , Uttar Pradesh, India Tragedy The word \u2018Tragedy\u2019 comes from Greek word \u2018tragodia\u2019 meaning \u2018goat song\u2019 related to sacrifice of goat made at the time of spring festival to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6516","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nFeatures of Shakespearean Tragedies - Afflatus Creations<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The word \u2018Tragedy\u2019 comes from Greek word \u2018tragodia\u2019 meaning \u2018goat song\u2019 related to sacrifice of goat made at the time of spring festival to\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/afflatuscreations.com\/index.php\/features-of-shakespearean-tragedies\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Features of Shakespearean Tragedies - 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