Aristotalian tragedy vs shakespearean tragedy

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Name:-Heerva Bhatt
Course :-M.A. (sem.1)
Paper no.:- 3(Literary theory and 
                       Criticism )
Roll no.:- 14
Email Id :-heervabhatt96@gmail.com 
Submitted to :-Smt.S.B.Gardi Department of English, Bhavnagar. 

Introduction :-
                           Tragedy  (Greek word)is a former of drama based on human suffering that invokes an accompanying catharsis or pleasure in audiences. While many cultures have developed forms that provoke this paradoxical response, the term tragedy often refers to a specific tradition of drama that has played a unique and important role historically in the self-definition of Western civilisation.That tradition has been multiple and discontinuous,yet the term has often been used to invoke a powerful effect of cultural identity and historical continuity -"The Greeks and the Elizabethans, in one cultural form;Hellens and Christians, in a common activity."as Raymond Williams puts it.
                       When we talked about tragedy we memories two great critics or tragedians. The first was Aristotle, who gave us theory of tragedy and second was Shakespeare, who gave us four best tragedy in English literature.
                      According to these two writers we get knowledge that one who set the rules and another who break that rules and set his own rules of tragedy writing.Aristotle set the rules about tragedy and strictly followed that rules.But Shakespeare came,he break all the set rules and set his own rules.First we talk about Aristotle's tragedy.

♧♧Aristotalian Tragedy:-
                                According to Aristotle :"A tragedy is 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. "
                       Tragedy is an imitation, not of men,but of action and life ,of happiness and misery.And life consists of action,and its end is a mode of activity,not a quality.Now character determines men's qutilities, but it is thier action that makes them happy or wretched. The purpose of action in the tragedy;therefore, is not the representation  of character; character comes in as contributing to the action.Hence the incidents and the plot are the end of the tragedy;and the end is the chief thing of all.Without action there can't be a tragedy;there may be one without character......The plot,then is the first principle, and as it were the soul of a tragedy character holds the second place.
                         According to Aristotle, tragedy has six main elements:plot,character, diction,thought,spectacle and music, of which the first two are primary.Most of the poetics is devoted to analysis of the scope and proper use of these elements, with illustrative examples selected from many tragic dramas,especially those of Sophocles, although Aeschylus, Euripides and some playwrights whose works no longer survive are also cited.
                        Aristotle’s Poetics is the earliest -surviving work of dramatic theory,and this work is a good source to examine Aristotle, a tragedy is characterised by seriousness. It represents or imitates the reality.Thus, it's an imitation of action and life, of happiness and misery.
                      According to Aristotle's six main elements, The plot must be a complete whole while containing a definite beginning, middle and end.The plot also requires a single central theme where all elements are logically connected.
                     The plot of a tragedy usually revolves around a renowned and prosperous hero who faces a reversal fortune, particularly due to his own tragic flaw.The plot consists of two main elements :Reversal occurs when a situation seems to be developing in one direction and then suddenly reverses , In another direction.Oedipus' investigation of the murder of Luius is an example of this element.Recognition is the point where the protagonist learns the truth of the situation or comes to a situation or comes to a realisation about himself or another character.
                       According to Aristotle, "Plot is the soul of Tragedy."Plot is the 'First principal'and He defines Plot as "The Harmonious arrangement of the incidents."Simple plot have only a "Change of fortune."The plot is "the end at which tragedy aims."
                     Character comes in as subsidiary to the action.Firest the characters must be life like.They must be true representatives of actual human nature. Secondly, they must be like the traditional or historical personages on whom they are modeled and whose name the bear.Aristotle has given four types of hero and the characteristics :
1.A good man-coming to bad end.
2.A bad man-coming to good end.
3.A bad man-coming to bad end.
4.A rather good man-coming to good end.
                         He gives the idea about Error of judgement. Just one weakness in the hero'scharacter makes his downfall.
                      Song is one of these embelishments. Aristotle says that the chorus should have importance like the actor.Diction is medium of language and expression. In modern sense it means "choice of words."Aristotle was particularly interested in metaphors.Aristotle says,"Thought on the other hand,is shown in all they say when proving or disproving some particular point or enuciating some universal position. "Where something is provedto be or not to be or a general maxim is enunciated. "The Spectacle is the pleasure of tragedy."The preduction of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the port."
                   

According to Aristotle, the aim of tragedy is to create.Catharsis-creating feelings of pity and fear in the spectators so as to purge them of these emotions ensuring that they leave the theatre feeling cleansed and uplifted.There is a sense of completeness in Aristotelian tragedies.

♧♧Shakespearean Tragedy :-
                             Shakespearean tragedies were also influenced by Greek tragedies.Some similarities can be noted between both Aristotle and Shakespearean tragedy.Shakespearean tragedies also have a renowned or prosperous hero who experiences a reversal of fortune due to a tragic flaw.Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet, Othello, Antony and Cleopatra are some of Shakespeare’s famous tragedies.
                         However, some differences can be noted between Aristotle and Shakespearean interweaved many subplots into the play to make the plot more complicated and realistic.The protagonists in Shakespearean tragedies usually face a tragic death, not just a reversal of fortune.Morever, these protagonists don't gain self-knowledge or recognize their flow like protagonists in Aristotelian tragedies.
                    The inclusion of comic scenes is another difference between Aristotle and Shakespearean tragedies.Aristotelian tragedies usually had a chorus which narrated the scenes that take place offstage and they also provided relief to the spectators.In shakespearean tragedies, the chorus is replaced by comic scenes such as the porter's scene in Macbeth.
   
Characteristics of Shakespearean tragedy :-
1.conflict between good and evil
2.True to life (nature )
3.The Tragic Hero
4.The Tragic Flaw
5.The Tragic Waste
6.Character and Destiny:the extremes and the golden mean :the threshold:the twilight:the grey rather than the black and the white.
              Ex.Destiny works as devil,ghosthe, chances, accidents.
     ●This is a big difference between Greek tragedy and Shakespearean tragedy.
7.Three complicating factors:
      ■some abnormal condition of mind.
      ■The supernatural ,ghost and witches.
      ■The role of chance.
8.The conflict :Inner as well as with others.
9.Catharsis
10.The Melodramatic element.
11.No poetic justice
12.Serenity at the end.
      ●where hero became more Nobel.
  Ex.In Hamlet,End of the play's dialogue :of Horatio and Hamlet.
Horatio:If your mind dislike anything, obey
                it.I will forstall their repair hither
                and say your are not fit........
                 

  A shakespearean tragedy is a play penned by Shakespeare himself, or a play written in the style of Shakespeare by a different author.Shakespearean tragedy has got its own specific features, which distinguish it from other kinds of tragidies. It must be kept in mind that Shakespeare is mostly indebted to Aristotle's theory of tragedy in his works. The elements of a Shakespearean tragedy:

Elements	Explanation
Tragic Hero	A main character cursed by fate and possessed of a tragic flaw.
A Struggle Between Good and Evil	This struggle can take place as part of the plot or exist within the main character.
Hamartia	The fatal character flaw of the tragic hero.
Tragic Waste	The good being destroyed along with the bad at the resolution of the play. Often played out with the unnecessary loss of life, especially of "good guy" characters.
External Conflict	This can be a problem facing the hero as a result of the plot or a "bad guy" character.
Internal Conflict	The struggle the hero engages in with his/her fatal flaw.
Catharsis	The release of the audience's emotions through empathy with the characters.
Supernatural Elements	Magic, witchcraft, ghosts, etc.
Lack of Poetic Justice	Things end poorly for everyone, including the "good guys."
Comic Relief	One or more humorous characters who participate in scenes intended to lighten the mood.

                           A shakespearean tragedy is a specific type of tragedy  (a written work with a sad ending where the Hero either dies or ends up mentally,emotionally or spirituality devastated beyond recovery)that also includes all of the additional elements.

♧♧Difference between Aristotelian tragedy vs shakespearean tragedy :-

                     Aristotelian tragedy and Shakespearean tragedy are two of the most important forms of tragedies. Although Shakespearean tragedies have been influenced by Aristotle's concepts of tragedy,some differences can be noted between the two.The main difference between Aristotle and Shakespearean tragedy is the unity of plot;Aristotelian tragedy consists of a single central plot where as Shakespearean tragedy consists of several interwoven subplots.

This  article explores,

1.What is an Aristotle Tragedy -Features,characteristics and Elements.

2.What is a Shakespearean Tragedy-Features, characteristics and Elements .

3.Difference -comparison of Features,characteristics and Elements.

♧♧ Difference between Aristotelian and Shakespearean Tragedy plot:-

Aristotelian tragedy :-Has a single central
                                          Plot.
Shakespearean Tragedy :-has several
                                                Subplots.
■End:-
Aristotelian tragedy :-The protagonist
                                     faced death or reversal of fortune.
Shakespearean tragedy:-protagonist often                                     face a tragic death.
■Chorus:-
Aristotelian tragedy :-Aristotelian tragedy                                     had a chorus.
Shakespearean Tragedy :-has replaced
                                              the chorus with a comic scene.
■Recognition:-
Aristotelian tragedy :-The protagonist
                                          learns the truth of the situation or comes to a realisation about itself.
Shakespearean Tragedy :-The protagonist
                                           doesn't always gain a self-knowledge.

Conclusion :-
                         Now,we conclude the difference between Aristotelian and Shakespearean Tragedy. And said that both of them were great tragedians. And also both have theither own style of writing.But themselves they both wrote tragedy in good way.
                    Now we get knowledge about Aristotelian tragedy and Shakespearean tragedy. In some way they both are different and in some way they both are similar with each other.

References :-

■http://pediaa.com/difference-between-aristotle-and-shakespearean-tragedy/

■https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetics_(Aristotle)