Chapter 7 introduces the idea of genre, or type. These broad categorizations provide directors, producers, designers, and performers with a starting point for understanding and discussing dramatic texts. The two primary genres of drama are tragedy and comedy. While the chapter describes the characteristics of tragedy as being thoughtful and sober, one of the most interesting characteristics of Shakespeare’s tragedies is the mix of comic and tragic elements. In most of Shakespeare’s plays, he adds comic scenes to relieve the dramatic tension as well as providing a second type of commentary on the action. With the insertion of humor, the pace of the play changes and the audience is allowed a moment of lighter reflection before returning to the more somber mood of the whole piece.
We can see reflections of ourselves in the struggles of classic tragic heroes and heroines. Driven by heightened emotions, the characters of Aeschylus and Shakespeare still speak to modern audiences.
CREDIT: Video clip #11790 from "Greek Drama: From Ritual to Theater"; Video clip #7709 from "Hamlet: A Critical Guide"; Video clip #5862 from "Royal Shakespeare Company: Great Performances"; Video footage used with the permission of Films for the Humanities & Sciences ®, Princeton, NJ. All Rights Reserved.
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