Poetic diction

For centuries, tragedy has been used to make the protagonist relatable to the audience. Despite the hero usually being someone who is high-bred, modern day films and novels still continue to use the aspect of tragedy to reach the conventional man. However, man is imperfect and no matter how noble they are, every man experiences fear. Arthur Miller’s use of modern tragedy allows the common man to be a suitable tragic hero because the simple man combats fear of displacement in their everyday life…

Macbeth by William Shakespeare is credited to be one of the greatest plays ever written. The play deserves such high praise because of its near perfect fit to the standards of Shakespearian tragedy. The play exhibits multiple characters of a tragedy, however the most obvious, and arguably most significant include the use of a tragic hero, hamartia, and catharsis. Undoubtedly, the most vital part of a Shakespearean tragedy is that the play contains a tragic hero. Previously, in Aristotelian…

Ho takes an in depth examination of the meaning of the term, hamartia, arguing that the term refers to the ignorance of one’s actions as applied to Aristotle’s Poetics. Ho’s close examination includes line-by-line correlation to the original Greek text. Although this essay does not provide a direct correlation to the play, Oedipus the King, the information discussed provides a valid reference to the meaning behind…

An Aristotelian Outlook on Two Very Different Tales Aristotle defines a tragedy as “the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language;... in a dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a catharsis of these emotions” (Meyer 2). Or to put in simpler terms, completing a serious action that has the depth within itself to arouse fear in an effort to cleanse any…

The word tragedy is defined as an event causing great destruction or distress. In the play Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare emphasizes this idea of tragedy. The story is revolved around this family feud which led many of these tragedies. A lot of character’s are impacted off this concept of two families having complete hatred for one another. In William Shakespeare's story Romeo and Juliet, the characters of Tybalt, Lord Capulet and Friar Lawrence contribute to the tragedy of the play because of…

The play “Julius Caesar” explained two men named Brutus and Antony who both presented speeches in front of their town with different meanings about the assassination of Caesar. Antony had to ask Brutus for permission to speak at Caesar’s funeral. His despairing emotion and speech drawed the crowds special attention. Antony speech does not show any praise of caesar but does show sympathy and memorable memories that caesar did for his town. This whole situation sums a complete catastrophe. If…

The theme, characterization, and social aspect of Macbeth are different from those in Antigone. Macbeth, a respected man, pursues power by all means, killing people and manipulating those that believe he respects them. Meanwhile, Macbeth communicates with three witches to ensure that his plans of action are uninterrupted trying to become king by any means necessary. However, during his mission to become king, all turn tragic and he never achieves the chance to learn from his actions. On the…

Blame is when someone or something is assigned for a wrong committed by another person. People assign blame to feel better about themselves and the mistake they made, using it as an excuse. In the play, Romeo and Juliet, a series of faults are committed by multiple people unwilling to accept the blame, causing a chain of events that lead to the death of a few Capulets and Montagues. Two factors leading to the untimely death of Romeo and Juliet are Capulet’s treatment and the Friar’s…

Is Hamlet Insane? The sanity of the human being is a treasured thing and, by its nature, a vital component of what makes a person. Yet in order to avenge his father’s death Hamlet willingly sacrifices his own sanity, at least in public, so that he may conspire without suspicion. In fact, Hamlet plays the part of an insane man so convincingly, many have claimed that at some point in the play the madness stops being an act and Hamlet truly loses his mind. However, Hamlet shows a clarity of actions…

Who Is To Blame in The Crucible (A Character Analysis of Abigail Williams in The Crucible) Arthur Miller, the author of The Crucible, once said “Betrayal is the only truth that sticks.” In his play The Crucible, there are many examples of betrayal and mass hysteria in the play and there are many different people who cause each. But, as in each tragedy, there is always one main antagonist. Some would say John Proctor is responsible for all the wrong done in the play. He is to a point, but there…