Tragedy: a drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances. This is the (one of many) technical definition, but we do we think tragedy is? It can be a small occurrence or a catastrophic event. Normally we think of tragedy as something we read about in plays or stories but it can be plainly seen in our everyday lives. Tragedy is pouring a bowl of cereal, only to discover there is no milk left. Tragedy is the mother who dies giving birth, while the baby lives. Tragedy is the ruler whose kingdom crumbles before him.
Tragedy is the main theme of many works of literature throughout history. Examples include: Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Oedipus Rex, Julius Caesar, Of Mice and Men, The Book Thief, The Fault In Our Stars, The Lovely Bones, et cetera, et cetera... Each one has a different type of tragedy, the most common being death. In Romeo & Juliet, both Romeo and Juliet die. In Hamlet, who doesn't die? In Macbeth, again, pretty much everyone dies. It continues on for the rest - people die.
Tragedy makes you feel. It doesn't always have to make you feel sad, but it makes you feel something. It's passionate and extreme and raw. One's tragedy could be dropping their phone in the toilet while another's is the death of a parent in a terrible car accident.
There is an interesting paper online that talks about the idea that American pop culture does not value tragedy, that we find tragedy depressing. It offers interesting perspective to this topic that is not generally thought about. It includes the following quote:
"Tragedy is more important than love. Out of all human events, it is tragedy alone that
brings people out of their own petty desires and into awareness of other humans'
suffering. Tragedy occurs in human lives so that we will learn to reach out and comfort
others"
--C. S. Lewis
Tragedy is the main theme of many works of literature throughout history. Examples include: Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Oedipus Rex, Julius Caesar, Of Mice and Men, The Book Thief, The Fault In Our Stars, The Lovely Bones, et cetera, et cetera... Each one has a different type of tragedy, the most common being death. In Romeo & Juliet, both Romeo and Juliet die. In Hamlet, who doesn't die? In Macbeth, again, pretty much everyone dies. It continues on for the rest - people die.
Tragedy makes you feel. It doesn't always have to make you feel sad, but it makes you feel something. It's passionate and extreme and raw. One's tragedy could be dropping their phone in the toilet while another's is the death of a parent in a terrible car accident.
There is an interesting paper online that talks about the idea that American pop culture does not value tragedy, that we find tragedy depressing. It offers interesting perspective to this topic that is not generally thought about. It includes the following quote:
"Tragedy is more important than love. Out of all human events, it is tragedy alone that
brings people out of their own petty desires and into awareness of other humans'
suffering. Tragedy occurs in human lives so that we will learn to reach out and comfort
others"
--C. S. Lewis