GREEK TRAGEDY v/s SHAKESPEARIAN TRAGEDY
Tragedy is an old playwright drama term portrayed for style of writing plays particularly. Evidently Greek and Shakespearian tragedy are most significant. The tragedies were staged to entertain in ancient times.
Greek tragedy itself declares that it emerged from Greece around 600 years ago. Greek tragedies are inspired from the Greek culture. The playwrights under this tragedy were written by Sophocles, Aeschylus focused mainly on religious gods and goddesses divine power. These playwrights show men’s puny like if one does something wrong then god power will ruin the person’s life.
Shakespearian tragedy has come out from the playwright William Shakespeare. This tragedy is for all ages and times, they are always interesting to read and research on. This tragedy is immortal for all times.
The noticeable difference also of- in greek tragedies ‘destiny is character’ the fate can not be changed but in Shakespearean tragedies, a plan and action would determine the plot and story.
There is one more difference- greek tragedies never had emotions, including comedy as a tragic play.
The greek tragedies had only three actors wearing masks but the other one had no restrictions like this.
The god divine powers inspired the writers to write about the supreme powers of god, goddesses and their importance in human’s life.
Whereas Shakespearean tragedies were influenced by the lives of kings, queens and to entertain them. The plays were taken from real life tragedies.
In comparison, Greeks detailed about the action. The actions in the play is one single whole without any digressions. The time of the play is three to twenty four hours max. It is one place specifically whereas Shakespearean tragedy has more than two places and stays longer for more than twenty four hours. The Greek tragedy has chorus with singing and performing dance-like maneuvers on stage, traditional dance. Whereas Shakespearean tragedy does not have any chorus in it, no dance and music, the focus is completely only on the play and its performance.
In comparison, greek tragedies never performed or showed violence in the plays but Shakespearean tragedies were based on violence as a climax, they make a base to surprise and in the falling action, there is a happy ending or a solution.
In comparison, greek tragedies have a beginning, rising action, climax, falling action and solution, whereas Shakespearean tragedies have a beginning already then rising and climax and solution.
The relationship between both is the tragic hero holds the highest position as a protagonist.
The second relationship between both is- women were not allowed to act on the stage, only men played as women characters.
Both tragedies show a lot of deaths and if the tragic hero does not die, then he had to suffer a lot of loss.
In terms of unity of action, time and place in greek tragedies were followed in a common plot trait, however these units were not obeyed in Shakespearean tragedies.
