In Poetics, Aristotle defines the genre of tragedy, which has long been respected as the only efficient and effective model for attaining true tragic effect. Despite this tradition, Shakespeare’s plays deviate from this framework, but are still revered as respected Renaissance tragedies. By Aristotelian definitions, neither King Lear nor Othello are ideal tragedies, but nonetheless they both adeptly accomplish the aim of tragedy. Both plays still arouse feelings of pity and fear, despite varying in form from Aristotle’s ideal tragedies and even each other. King Lear is more experimental in its approach, while Othello follows Aristotle’s principles of unity more closely. Shakespeare’s varied approach to tragedy allows for the exploration of
…show more content…
Namely Othello and King Lear show the greatest contrast of the concept of unity of time. Othello takes place in a short amount of time, confining the action to roughly twenty-four hours. Othello’s complete consumption by passion is almost immediate QUOTATION MAYBE. He descends from contentment and stability into completely bestial fervour in the passing of a few hours. The condensed time intensifies the action, enabling concentrated manipulation, misunderstanding, and ultimately extreme emotion. The impact of Othello is heightened and intensified through unity of time. The emotions are quick and powerful, completely consuming the characters until nothing remains. QUOTATION MAYBE. Othello’s use of time arouses genuine fear; audiences are repulsed by the quick change of affairs and irrational actions of Othello and Iago. The use of unity of time in Othello is terrifying because it shows how precarious order inherently is. Society is extremely fragile and dependent on the rational internal order of its citizens’. Othello, with its compacted time, shows how quickly equilibrium can be disturbed and how easily humankind can descend into irrational disorder. This thematic idea is crucial to creating the essential tragic effect of fear and is largely supported through unity of
Namely Othello and King Lear show the greatest contrast of the concept of unity of time. Othello takes place in a short amount of time, confining the action to roughly twenty-four hours. Othello’s complete consumption by passion is almost immediate QUOTATION MAYBE. He descends from contentment and stability into completely bestial fervour in the passing of a few hours. The condensed time intensifies the action, enabling concentrated manipulation, misunderstanding, and ultimately extreme emotion. The impact of Othello is heightened and intensified through unity of time. The emotions are quick and powerful, completely consuming the characters until nothing remains. QUOTATION MAYBE. Othello’s use of time arouses genuine fear; audiences are repulsed by the quick change of affairs and irrational actions of Othello and Iago. The use of unity of time in Othello is terrifying because it shows how precarious order inherently is. Society is extremely fragile and dependent on the rational internal order of its citizens’. Othello, with its compacted time, shows how quickly equilibrium can be disturbed and how easily humankind can descend into irrational disorder. This thematic idea is crucial to creating the essential tragic effect of fear and is largely supported through unity of