Tragedy/Definition: Difference between revisions
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An [[misfortune|unfortunate]] [[event]] or [[chain]] of events which [[causation|leads to]] [[suffering]], loss of [[life]], or [[serious]] [[repercussion]]s. The sense of the [[word]] is linked to its [[etymology|etymological]] [[root]]s in [[Greek tragedy]] which was a form of [[drama]] invented by [[playwright]] such as [[Aeschylus]], [[Euripides]] and [[Sophocles]] in which a ''tragic [[hero]]'' such as [[Oedipus]] or [[Orestes]], who, despite [[good]] [[intention]]s, [[action|acts]] in [[good faith]] to strive for a [[positive]] [[outcome]] but has the unfortunate [[cause-and-effect|effect]] of bringing about suffering. Often the hero has what is called a ''tragic flaw'', a [[personality]] [[defect]] or [[trait]] which brings about the negative outcome. In the [[theatre]], a tragedy, despite the often grisly [[ending]], brings about a [[cartharsis]] for the [[audience]]; according to [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[philosopher]]s such as [[Aristotle]], the cartharsis happens because theater-goers [[experience]] the [[pain]] [[vicarious|vicariously]], watching it happen in other people, and therefore get a kind of [[release]] and are [[relief|relieved]] that the [[horror|horrific]] [[fate]] did not happen to them. | An [[misfortune|unfortunate]] [[event]] or [[chain]] of events which [[causation|leads to]] [[suffering]], loss of [[life]], or [[serious]] [[repercussion]]s. The sense of the [[word]] is linked to its [[etymology|etymological]] [[root]]s in [[Greek tragedy]] which was a form of [[drama]] invented by [[playwright]]s such as [[Aeschylus]], [[Euripides]] and [[Sophocles]] in which a ''tragic [[hero]]'' such as [[Oedipus]] or [[Orestes]], who, despite [[good]] [[intention]]s, [[action|acts]] in [[good faith]] to strive for a [[positive]] [[outcome]] but has the unfortunate [[cause-and-effect|effect]] of bringing about suffering. Often the hero has what is called a ''tragic flaw'', a [[personality]] [[defect]] or [[trait]] which brings about the negative outcome. In the [[theatre]], a tragedy, despite the often grisly [[ending]], brings about a [[cartharsis]] for the [[audience]]; according to [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] [[philosopher]]s such as [[Aristotle]], the cartharsis happens because theater-goers [[experience]] the [[pain]] [[vicarious|vicariously]], watching it happen in other people, and therefore get a kind of [[release]] and are [[relief|relieved]] that the [[horror|horrific]] [[fate]] did not happen to them. | ||
Revision as of 08:58, 16 April 2010
An unfortunate event or chain of events which leads to suffering, loss of life, or serious repercussions. The sense of the word is linked to its etymological roots in Greek tragedy which was a form of drama invented by playwrights such as Aeschylus, Euripides and Sophocles in which a tragic hero such as Oedipus or Orestes, who, despite good intentions, acts in good faith to strive for a positive outcome but has the unfortunate effect of bringing about suffering. Often the hero has what is called a tragic flaw, a personality defect or trait which brings about the negative outcome. In the theatre, a tragedy, despite the often grisly ending, brings about a cartharsis for the audience; according to Greek philosophers such as Aristotle, the cartharsis happens because theater-goers experience the pain vicariously, watching it happen in other people, and therefore get a kind of release and are relieved that the horrific fate did not happen to them.