The tragedy in modern times and
Contemporaries
After the splendor of Greek tragedy, it did not
reappear until the time of Renaissance, and at
the beginning it was only translations or
adaptations of the classic works. However, over
time unpublished tragedies began to be created.
• In England: there was an important evolution
of the tragedy with the Theater: Christopher
Marlowe, considered the great predecessor of
another important author, William Shakespeare,
who revitalized the tragedy. Unlike the Greek
tragedy, where the characters are mythological
beings,in this drama the characters are of any
social status, contravening the Aristotle's idea
that the tragedy could only represent those who
They have power and high social status.
In Spain: Lope de Vega with his work El
caballero de Olmedo y Calderón de La
Barca, with La vida es sueño, that although
they call them comedies, they have
characteristics of tragedy.
• In Germany: we place Goethe and
Schiller as their biggest representatives.
• In Mexico: in the 20th century we have
Rodolfo Usigli, Sergio Magaña with works as
The supplicant, Ensayando a Molière, The
transfigured night and Hector Azar with
Picaresca, The skinny cows, The divine
tragedy of loving and being loved
External structure of classical tragedy
(form)
The elements that form the external
structure are:
• Prologue: it is the part that precedes the
entrance of the choir. It serves to narrate
the public the plot of the work.
• Exodus: final chorus of the choir, which is
performed at the end of the tragedy.
Parodos: it is the entrance song of the
choir, it is located in the orchestra.
• Episode: Aristotle defines it as "the full
part of the tragedy that goes between
two complete choral songs ".
• Statism: choir singing that is
interspersed between two episodes
and that used to Accompanied by
dances.
The elements that allow analyzing the
background of a tragedy are:
Adventures: It refers to the adverse and
unexpected circumstance that gives a
turn in the life of the protagonist. At this
point,
the
protagonist
sees
his
expectations frustrated and begin the
misfortunes that will inevitably lead to
an unhappy end.
Anagnórosis: According to Aristotle, it is
the moment in which the protagonist
reveals or discovers some truth about
himself. The fact of knowing this truth
changes your perspective.
Hybris: It refers to the excessive pride that
makes mortals believe that they do not
need the gods and that they can even be
superior to them. This is the main cause of all
the misfortunes of the protagonist.
Catharsis
It is the effect that causes the tragedy
in the spectator. Show you the
consequences of the bad actions of
the protagonists, thus achieving a
moral education that it takes him to live
the established values. In fact, the
theater was used to regulate the
behavior of its citizens.
Internal structure of modern tragedy
(background)
The elements of the internal structure of
modern tragedy are:
Planteo:
It is the presentation of the conflict, the
protagonist faces his struggle.
Internal structure of modern tragedy
(background)
The elements of the internal structure of
modern tragedy are:
Planteo: It is the presentation of the
conflict, the protagonist faces his
struggle.
Adventures: It refers to a notorious change
in the character's luck, since suddenly face
something unexpected, it can be favorable
or unfavorable.
Outcome
Final situation that normally occurs in a
tragedy: the death of the protagonist.
A fundamental difference with respect
to the classic tragedy is that destiny
it does not have a determining role in
the luck of the protagonist. The tragic
end is not result of disobedience to the
gods, but the result of personal
decisions.