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Shakespeare and the Tragedy: Hamlet and Othello

            
             The dramatic tragedy as we know it draws its origins from ancient Greece. These classic plays followed a strict and consistent structure, almost universally occurring in one location over the course of one day, and revolving around one major plot. These Greek dramas almost universally portrayed the downfall of a hero or character of legend and high stature. Aristotle defined the classic tragedy as a story centered about the hero's noble and moral struggle against fate. To the Greeks, fate would always overpower will and in the end the characters would surrender to their destinies. These philosophies can be seen in tragedies such as Sophocles' Oedipus Rex where it would be the hero's destiny to be overcome and brought down by his own internal flaws.
             Shakespeare was a prolific writer and among his works exist ten tragedies, each of which are governed by varying levels of ancient Greek and contemporary Christian values and themes. Despite this fact there is always one major theme which appears too occur in all tragedies Shakespearean or otherwise; that is there exists a constant struggle for control between the forces of destiny and free will which brings about the hero's destruction.
             Shakespeare's tragedies generally have a certain structure in common. Each one is segmented into five acts, each of which are representative of the same general sequence of plot development. Act I serves as an introduction to the situation and the characters. Act II is a further development and continuation of the plot. Act III is the climax that serves to solidify and give direction towards the eventual outcome. Act IV is a sort of transition and prelude to Act V in which the final crisis occurs and the play is resolved. .
             Two of Shakespeare's most widely recognized tragedies are Hamlet and Othello. Both of these plays have in common the same general Shakespearean format described above. As we will see, Hamlet and Othello share many other themes in common along with a few notable differences in theme and structure as well.


Essays Related to Shakespeare and the Tragedy: Hamlet and Othello

1. A Tragedy or Not A Tragedy

Maybe all this applies to tragedies written during the time that Sophocles wrote Oedipus, but when Shakespeare wrote Othello and Hamlet he must have chosen to leave out some of these elements that make a "tragedy". ... Some question whether Othello and Hamlet are truly tragedies, because Shakespeare does leave out a few elements of earlier tragic drama, but careful analyses of the two works reveals that they certainly are tragedies, but with a new twist. ... After reading Shakespeare's tragedies one can infer that Shakespeare meant to make this difference, but why? ... Othello and Ha...

  • Word Count: 980
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Tragedy - Hamlet

Arguably the best piece of writing ever done by William Shakespeare, Hamlet the is the classic example of a tragedy. In all tragedies the hero suffers, and usually dies at the end. Othello stabs himself, Romeo and Juliet commit suicide, Brutis falls on his sword, and like them Hamlet dies by getting cut with a poison tipped sword. ... In every tragedy, the characters must displays some. ... In Othello, Othello had one fatal flaw, he was too great. ...

  • Word Count: 1033
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Tragedy

Many examples of tragedies come from Greek theatre and the dramatic works of Shakespeare. ... In Shakespeare's Othello, Othello is a man of power, but when he thought that Desdemona was cheating on him his jealously brought him to kill Desdemona, but when he discovered the truth, he killed himself also. ... Othello's hamartia made him vulnerable to his outcome. ... Othello then responds, "how shall I kill him, Iago?" ... Hamlet lived by the sword and died by the sword. ...

  • Word Count: 1180
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Hamlet

Arguably the best piece of writing ever done by William Shakespeare, Hamlet the is the classic example of a tragedy. In all tragedies the hero suffers, and usually dies at the end. Othello stabs himself, Romeo and Juliet commit suicide, Brutis falls on his sword, and like them Hamlet dies by getting cut with a poison tipped sword. ... In every tragedy, the characters must displays some. ... In Othello, Othello had one fatal flaw, he was too great. ...

  • Word Count: 1033
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Criticism Of Shakespeare And His Drama

Several of Shakespeare's famous tragedies were written and performed in this theatre such as Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. ... William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies, which later became known as the First Folio (Claybourne 10). The most well known of all of Shakespeare's tragedies would be The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or as it is called today, Hamlet. ... Shakespeare originally based this play upon the tale of Thomas Kyd's Belleforest, from the Spanish Tragedy. ... Robertson of the University of Minnesota is quite concise of his opini...

  • Word Count: 2347
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Shakespeare's revenge factors

Revenge Factors Othello, King Lear, and Hamlet are all tragic plays. ... Had Othello and Gloucester looked deeper into the stories they were told they could have prevented the tragedies. In Hamlet, the tragedy occurred when Hamlet did not act fast enough in his revenge leaving time for Claudius to reek further havoc. ... Two of the tragedies could have been prevented had Othello and Gloucester not have been so trusting of the enemies. ... Hamlet had he exacted his revenge earlier could have saved the play from being a tragedy. ...

  • Word Count: 1222
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

7. stock characters/Shakespeare

This combination of characters has been drawn from two of Shakespeare's most renowned tragedies - King Lear and Hamlet. ... (Hamlet. ... Shakespeare has created many other characters who fit this sketch of innocent victims, such as Desdemona from Othello, and Juliet from Romeo and Juliet. ... The stock character of the innocent female victim is one in which Shakespeare tends to use in many of his tragedies. ... (Hamlet. ...

  • Word Count: 1288
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Hamlet

Hamlet, by the great William Shakespeare, is a piece of work for the ages. ... The title stands for all the tragedy in the play. ... His others works of art included Othello, Julius Cesar, Romeo and Juliet, and Mac Beth to name a few. ... It is quite obvious why it would be considered a tragedy. ... As in all tragedies, the main character, Prince Hamlet, dies by the sword as well as the rest of the main characters. ...

  • Word Count: 1576
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Soliloqiues in Othello

All throughout Othello, speeches are made aloud. ... There are, therefore many of these in all Shakespeare's plays, and, especially Othello. ... But to consider their importance and effect in Othello, context is crucial. ... I don't think that it is a mistake that Shakespeare has given many of his main soliloquies to the villains of his plays, for example, Macbeth, Hamlet and even King Richard III. ... In all Shakespeare's tragedies, the soliloquies are vital. ...

  • Word Count: 2089
  • Approx Pages: 8

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