what makes a play a tragedy?

Answer 1

1. any event with a sad and unfortunate outcome, but the term also applies specifically in Western culture to a form of drama defined by Aristotle characterized by seriousness and dignity and involving a great person who experiences a reversal of fortune
2. According to Aristotle, "The structure of the best tragedy should be one that represents for that is peculiar to this form of art."[1] This reversal of fortune must be caused by the tragic hero's hamartia, which is often mistranslated as a character flaw, but is more correctly translated as a mistake

Answer 2

A CLASSICAL tragedy had to have a few things -- 1. a hero of high social standing who falls 2. not by fate but through his own actions and 3. has a tragic flaw in his character. Think of Shakespeare's 4 Great Tragedies: the heroes are a prince -- Hamlet, a lieutenant -- Othello (in an Italian city-state that equates that with something like "mayor" or "governor") a king -- King Lear, and a rapidly-rising thane / duke / king -- Macbeth. Each has a tragic flaw; Hamlet's is indecision, for example. Each falls. Aristotle also added things like a visceral audience reaction near the end called a "catharsis" that sends the audience members out after the performance feeling sorrow or pity and vowing not to behave as the hero behaved.

Of course, over time, some of these "requirements" have been relaxed and conformed to certain societies of what should be central to that society's dramas. For example, in America, where every man can become president if he just works hard enough and the American dream was what motivated people, the a traveling salesman like Willy Loman can be the hero of a tragedy in Miller's Death of a Salesman

Answer 3

Out of all those answers you have a couple that are accurate in the Aristotelian sense. More simply put a tragedy is a play in which a problem is solved by a sacrifice (of reputation, of possession, of life, whatever), thus restoring hope for the future.

I have to comment on one of the other answerers who claims "anyone can become President, if he works hard enough." What a simplistic and thoughtless statement. One also has to have the qualifications of leadership, charisma, intelligence, and political know how. Some one with an IQ of 75 is not ever going to become president no matter how hard he works. The same is of any other profession. It is not true that anyone can do anything they put their mind to. One always has to have the basic qualifications to succeed.

Answer 4

Tragedy depicts the downfall of a noble hero or heroine, usually through some combination of hubris, fate, and the will of the gods. The tragic hero's powerful wish to achieve some goal inevitably encounters limits, usually those of human frailty (flaws in reason, hubris, society), the gods (through oracles, prophets, fate), or nature. Aristotle says that the tragic hero should have a flaw and/or make some mistake (hamartia). The hero need not die at the end, but he / she must undergo a change in fortune. In addition, the tragic hero may achieve some revelation or recognition (anagnorisis--"knowing again" or "knowing back" or "knowing throughout" ) about human fate, destiny, and the will of the gods. Aristotle terms this sort of recognition "a change from ignorance to awareness of a bond of love or hate."

Answer 5

A tragedy is normally a play that has an unhappy ending.
Another thing that can make a play a tragedy is, if the actors can't act.

Answer 6

I think i's when there is no resolve. Not just death, but where the main character(s) lose (for lack of a better term). No happy ending as you see in sitcoms. No resetting of how the way things were. You could have a play about a sport event, and the main character loses. That would be considered a tragedy.

Answer 7

I agree..i think of that they over-play those tragedies. i'm particular it somewhat is hurting the victims or their kin much greater to confirm it returned and returned returned! I say after it has already been on the information as quickly as then enable it relax. No-one somewhat ought to be reminded of a tragedy!

Answer 8

Uhh, I studied the meaning of 'tragedy' when I studied Hamlet, so I'm SURE Hamlet is a tragedy. I remember my teacher saying he was a tragic hero, but his flaw was his indecision. He also said that a family dying in a car accident wasn't classified as a tragedy, though it is bad. I dunno if this helps, but that's all I remember.

Answer 9

Often in Shakespeare's tragedies, most or even all of the main characters would be killed off (Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet) and that is the most basic definition.

Answer 10

Long strings of bad luck, and, as in the case of Shakespeare plays, just about everyone dies in the end.