Tragedy: A Literary Device

Etymology of Tragedy

The word “tragedy” has its origins in ancient Greek theater. It is derived from the Greek word tragōidia, which combines tragos (meaning “goat”) and ōidē (meaning “song” or “ode”).

Tragedies were originally performed during religious festivals in the honor of god, Dionysus. They used to feature the chorus singing and dancing while wearing goat skins.

Evolution in Tragedy

• Evolution of the Term: The term “tragedy” evolved to refer to a specific genre of dramatic art characterized by serious and sorrowful themes, often dealing with the downfall of a noble protagonist due to a flaw or fate.
• Enduring Prominence: Despite centuries having passed, tragedy continues to be a prominent literary and theatrical genre, exploring the human condition through the depiction of profound suffering and emotional catharsis.

Meaning of Tragedy

Classical Meaning	Modern Meaning	Postmodern Meaning
Ancient Greek Origins: Classical tragedy originated in ancient Greece as a form of drama depicting the downfall of a noble character due to a tragic flaw or fate.	Contemporary Usage: In modern usage, tragedy refers to any catastrophic or disastrous event or situation, often unrelated to drama.	Challenging Conventions: In postmodern contexts, tragedy challenges traditional notions of storytelling and structure, often blurring genres and subverting expectations.
Catharsis: It aimed to evoke pity and fear in the audience, creating a cathartic emotional release and a deeper understanding of the human condition.	Literary Genre: It also denotes a literary genre focused on serious and somber themes, marked by a sense of inevitability and impending doom.	Absurdity and Irony: Postmodern form may incorporate elements of absurdity and irony, reflecting a fragmented and uncertain worldview.
	Multimedia Expression: It finds expressions through various media, including plays, novels, films, and television, and can feature tragic heroes or heroines in diverse settings.	Deconstruction of Meaning: It explores the deconstruction of meaning, questioning the stability of truth and the reliability of narratives in a postmodern, fragmented reality.

Tragedy in Grammar

• Grammatical Nature: Grammatically, it is a singular noun.
• Plural Verb Usage: However, it often takes a plural verb when used in a sentence because it refers to a collective noun or a group of events such as tragedies and its noun is a tragedian.
• Example 1: For instance, in the sentence “Tragedies have occurred throughout history,” “tragedies” is the subject and takes a plural verb to agree with the subject.
• Example 2: Similarly, in the sentence “The tragedies of war affect many people,” the word “tragedies” is the subject and also takes a plural verb to match it in number.

Definition of Tragedy

It is a genre of literature or art that deals with serious themes, involving the downfall of a protagonist. It evokes feelings of pity and fear in the audience and aims to provide insight into the human condition.

Types of Tragedy

There are several types of tragedy, including:

Type	Definition	Example in Literature
Classical	Ancient Greek and Roman plays following specific rules with a tragic hero and fatal flaw.	Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex
Domestic	Tragic events within a family or household, involving conflicts between family members.	Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
Revenge	Revolves around a character seeking revenge for a perceived wrong.	William Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Melodrama	Characterized by exaggerated emotions and dramatic plotlines.	The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Modern	Explores themes of social injustice, political corruption, and disconnection in modern society.	Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
Shakespearean	Works of William Shakespeare with tragic heroes and fatal flaws.	William Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Existential	Focuses on an individual’s struggle to find meaning in an indifferent universe.	The Stranger by Albert Camus
Tragicomedy	Blends tragedy and comedy, resulting in a bittersweet ending.	William Shakespeare’s The Tempest
Catastrophe Tragedy	Emphasizes sudden and unexpected tragic events like natural disasters or accidents.	Sophocles’ Antigone
Philosophical Tragedy	Explores philosophical ideas and questions through characters’ experiences.	Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment
Heroic Tragedy	Focuses on the struggles of a heroic figure brought down by uncontrollable forces.	Friedrich Schiller’s Mary Stuart
Tragedy of the Commons	Refers to the depletion of shared resources due to selfish actions, leading to crises.	Garrett Hardin’s The Tragedy of the Commons
Tragedy of Blood	Involves violent and bloody downfall of characters, often through revenge or betrayal.	William Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus
Historical Tragedy	Based on real historical events or figures, exploring political or social forces in downfall.	William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
Satirical	Uses satire and irony to critique societal norms, often leading to a tragic outcome.	Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”

Literary Examples of Tragedy

Literary Example	Type	Explanation
Oedipus Rex	Classical	Oedipus Rex is a classic Greek tragedy that explores themes of fate, free will, and the consequences of human actions. It ends with Oedipus being blinded and exiled after unknowingly fulfilling a prophecy of killing his father and marrying his mother.
Hamlet	Revenge	Hamlet, a renowned Shakespearean tragedy, delves into themes of mortality, madness, and the consequences of inaction. The play ends with the deaths of several key characters as Prince Hamlet seeks revenge for his father’s murder.
Death of a Salesman	Modern	Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman examines the American Dream, struggle of the working class, and the father-son relationship. It concludes with Willy Loman’s suicide, depicting the harsh realities of a salesman’s life.
Macbeth	Shakespearean	Macbeth, another Shakespearean tragedy, revolves around themes of power, guilt, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. The play culminates in Macbeth’s downfall and death as his ambition leads him to commit murder.
The Great Gatsby	Tragedy of the Common Man	F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby explores the American Dream, class struggle, and the corruption of the wealthy elite. The novel concludes with the deaths of several major characters, exposing the dark underbelly of the American Dream.

Suggested Readings

1. Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms. Wadsworth Publishing, 2014.
2. Aristotle. Poetics. Translated by S. H. Butcher, Dover Publications, 1997.
3. Campbell, Joseph. The Hero with a Thousand Faces. New World Library, 2008.
4. Frye, Northrop. Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays. Princeton University Press, 2000.
5. Miller, Arthur. Tragedy and the Common Man. Viking Press, 1978.
6. Nietzsche, Friedrich. The Birth of Tragedy. Translated by Walter Kaufmann, Vintage Books, 1967.
7. Poole, Adrian. Tragedy: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2005.
8. Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Edited by Cyrus Hoy, W. W. Norton & Company, 1992.
9. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Translated by David Grene, University of Chicago Press, 2010.
10. Williams, Raymond. Modern Tragedy. Verso, 2008.