Can a comedy be a tragedy?

Answer 1

Yes... movie examples off the top of my head:

Fargo
M.A.S.H.
Harold and Maude
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Hair

Answer 2

In many ways. When the ancient greeks set down their ideas for theatre they split it in those two groups as a way of giving the audience an idea of what to expect.

Todays theatre, even Shakespeares's theatre could not split the genres anymore. In most of Shakespeare's tradegies, comedy was an important role to lighten the mood, and in many ways his comedies had bits of tragedy to give them depth.

In todays theatre the main idea of this comedic tragedy or the tragic comedy is Chekhov. His four major plays were as funny as they were tragic. In The Three Sisters as the brother is talking to the old man who cant here, he tells his entire life's tragedy and his longing for Moscow to the old man, and the old man tells him a story about how someone ate 50 pancakes in Moscow and dies.

In the contemportary theatre shows like Anton in Show Business and Glengarry Glen Ross are tragic and comedic at the same time.

Theatre, because it is created by humans, is alway evolving like our societies. Thus the theatre concepts of the greeks have moved and grown into entirely new categories.

Answer 3

To quote one of the greatest comedians in history, Mel Brooks, "Tragedy is when I cut my finger, comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die." So, no. Comedy effects somebody else, that's what makes it funny. Tragedy hits you on a personal level.

Answer 4

I'd say no. A comedy may contain some dark and dramatic elements ("The Merchant of Venice," e.g.), and a tragedy may certainly feature some comic relief (the Drunken Porter in "Macbeth," e.g.), but...if you're talking about the CLASSICAL definitions of the genres, they're really quite separate and distinct.

Answer 5

I would say that every tragedy is a comedy in it`s essence.
As for vice versa, yes, but not necessarily.

Answer 6

in humanistic, often we cant say a thing by certain, the interval between tragedy and comedy is so small.for example "bird of the sea"(Anton Chekhov), all people believe that this is tragedy but Chekhov, himself believe that this is comedy. and another example, "the goat or who is Sylvia?" &"who is afraid of virginia woolf?" by "edward albee". both of them are comedy and teragey in the sam time.

Answer 7

yes it can. it's like a parody of someones death. that would be an example. Shakespeare was great at it.

Answer 8

Yes! I can give you a great example...Ishtar!

Answer 9

YES