Tragedy

Definition

Tragedy is a dramatic genre that portrays the downfall of a noble or heroic character, often due to a combination of fate, personal flaws, and societal pressures. This form of storytelling typically evokes emotions such as pity and fear in the audience, leading to a cathartic experience. In this context, tragedy is closely tied to themes of naturalism and fatalism, illustrating how characters are often at the mercy of forces beyond their control.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Tragedy in literature often centers around characters who face insurmountable obstacles, reflecting the harsh realities of life.
2. In works marked by naturalism, tragedy highlights how external forces such as nature and society can dictate the outcomes of individual lives.
3. Fatalism in tragedy emphasizes the inevitability of fate, showing how characters may struggle against their predetermined paths but ultimately succumb to their destinies.
4. The emotional response to tragedy is essential; audiences experience feelings of pity and fear as they witness the protagonist's downfall.
5. Hardy's works exemplify tragedy through his characters’ struggles with their circumstances and fateful outcomes, showcasing a world indifferent to human suffering.

Review Questions

• How does tragedy reflect the themes of naturalism in literature?
  • Tragedy reflects naturalism by illustrating how characters are deeply affected by their environment, heredity, and social circumstances. In tragic narratives, characters often face forces beyond their control that lead to their downfall. This connection emphasizes the idea that personal choices may be overshadowed by deterministic factors, aligning with naturalistic principles where life's harsh realities dictate outcomes.
• In what ways does fatalism contribute to the tragic elements in literature?
  • Fatalism contributes to tragedy by portraying characters whose fates are predetermined and unchangeable. This theme creates a sense of inevitability, where no matter how much characters struggle against their circumstances, they are ultimately bound to meet their tragic ends. This dynamic enhances the emotional impact on audiences, as they witness the futility of resistance against fate.
• Analyze how Hardy's portrayal of tragedy exemplifies both naturalism and fatalism within his narratives.
  • Hardy's portrayal of tragedy intricately weaves together naturalism and fatalism by presenting characters who are shaped by their environments and doomed by fate. His protagonists often grapple with societal expectations, personal flaws, and harsh realities that culminate in tragic outcomes. Through this lens, Hardy illustrates how individual agency is limited by external forces, leading to a poignant exploration of human suffering and existential despair.

Related terms

fatalism: The belief that events are predetermined and inevitable, suggesting that human actions cannot change the course of destiny.

naturalism: A literary movement that seeks to portray life accurately and realistically, often emphasizing the influence of environment, heredity, and social conditions on human behavior.

catharsis: The emotional release experienced by the audience through the experiences of the tragic hero, leading to a sense of renewal or purification.