Wentworth 1

Ally Wentworth

Mr. Schoenborn

AP Literature

24 November 2016

What do you think, was it a tragedy?

Many believe that tragedy comes from the Greek plays in the theatre and they would be

correct. However, tragedy derives from Classical Greek , contracted from trag(o)-

aoidi = "goat song", which comes from tragos = "he-goat" and aeideas = "to sing" (cf. "ode").

Scholars suspect this may be traced to a time when a goat was either the prize in a competition

of choral dancing or was that around which a chorus danced prior to the animal's ritual sacrifice

(tragedy, wikipedia). In my opinion, this simply shows that people believe

they understand tragedy but it is much deeper than what it initially appears.

From the times of ancient cities with colosseums to the advanced

world we live in today we find tragedies, or as Miller states, century after

century, are the tragedies. There are two common definitions for tragedies.

First, a tragedy is a form of drama based on human suffering that invokes

an accompanying catharsis or pleasure of audiences (wikipedia, tragedy). These are the pieces

such as Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Julius Caesar, A second definition of a tragedy

is an event that one actually experiences. For example, an event causing

great suffering, destruction, and distress, such as a serious accident, crime, or

natural catastrophe (wikipedia, tragedy).

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Both of these statements are correct but the second definition seems to pertain to today's

society much more. Long ago tragedies were about kings and Gods. Such topics were very

relevant back then but they are not so relevant in todays culture. Arthur Miller stated it best

when he wrote, a tragedy is applying to everyone in similar emotional situations". We all

experience feeling of tragedies, it is now more personal than it was way back then. We might not

be able to relate to things of higher power, but we can relate to our life events. Tragedy can range

over a long spectrum of events, an example would be 9/11. I could even go as far to say that this

paper is a small tragedy for me to write, as I struggled so much.

According to Aristotle a tragedy is the imitation of a noble action that is serious and

also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in appropriate and pleasurable language;... in a

dramatic rather than narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to

accomplish a catharsis of these emotions (Miller). All of this is true, yet most people still only

wrote about nobility. We as civilians cannot relate with this, so Joseph Krutch challenges this

reason by saying, no one knows what noble action is or whether or not such a thing exist in

nature apart from the mind of the man. Tragedy does not only happen to nobility and it is

impossible to define a noble action as everyone is different.

Interestingly however, while everyone is different, Botton indicates that all people have

some commonalities, mainly people are snobs, this is not just some English thing, this a global

phenomena (Botton). We all want the most success in of life, careers, and most importantly

materialistic goods. People will do anything to get to the top of the social pyramid. What helps

us get to the top are our decisions. However, the decision that we believe are our may in fact not

really be our own. This actually creates tragedy within itself. How? Based on information Dan

Ariely has gathered through research, he says that our eyes see but are actually not seeing.
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Through the use of visual illusions he is able to prove thatmany of our decisions are not really

our own, they are often influenced by outside forces (Ariely). Society and ourselves put so

much pressure on being successful, and this creates fear.We fear failing,because we fear

judgement and ridicule from others (Botton). Fear is one of the strongest feelings in this world,

and when fear is felt the probability of doing worse increases . Tragedy creates the fear most of

us feel but in realityfear is tragedy itself (Botton).

Arthur Miller says among us today this fear is as strong, and perhaps stronger, than it

ever was. In fact, it is the common man who knows this fear best". This being true, creates a

problem for us, the common man. In this age very few tragedies are written (Miller), this is

because tragedy, is the greatest and most difficult of the arts (Krutch). Us as humans are very

stubborn, independent and emotional creatures, and we do not enjoy hearing all about sadness

that tragedy creates. Tragedies much like stories of humor can be difficult to talk about. It is then

the author's job to find a way to connect the two in less harsh ways. "But tragedy requires a nicer

balance between what is possible and what is impossible (Krutch). Authors do this by having a

harsh story, but with its own happy ending.. In its own way (Krutch). There is usually a lesson

at the end of these. An example would Antigone, Even though she died. She stood up for what

she believed in and made her uncle realize that sometimes you have to yield your power. In

some way it turned a death filled story, into one with a powerful lesson.

Now you have heard all about what authors, and speakers determine tragedy as, but much

like success, you need to define this for yourself.

To me a tragedy can be many things, not just what all the materials say. I believe that

tragedy creates more tragedy unless, you stand up to it. The can be found in classic pieces as

Oedipus and Antigone. There were so many crazy events in Oedipus such as mother being
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married to her son with kids. Despite trying to change the prophecy. Those events caused all of

the tragic events throughout all of Antigone. The only the time someone tried to break the path

that this family was on, was when Antigone broke the laws to do something she believed was

right, and that we to give her brother a proper burial. She did not sit around and let tragedy

overtake her. Even though she died, she tried to break the chain and I think that is all that matter.

What I believe is a tragedy is not necessarily what you will believe a tragedy is. There are

so many forms. Even though tragedies and have gone from kings, gods and people of higher

power to "following it to the only place it could possibly lead in our time--the heart and spirit of

the average man (Miller). Everyones heart is different, even if it is the heart of the common

man.

Tragedy nowadays is considered horrible, it breaks our hearts.I dont think you can

necessarily avoid it."The tragic right is a condition of life (Miller). In this life we all have a path

and even though outside forces affect our decisions, I do not think they do entirely. We dont

like the idea of some illusion affecting our decisions (Ariely), I think this is because even

though outside forces have some effect, we are in control. We cant avoid this because every

decision has a chain reaction, the reaction will catch up to you at sometime. Once again, relating

this to Oedipus, because even though they tried to defy the prophecy it still came true. Not

every situation is bad, and I believe people more often or not are who they are today, because of

tragedy. The bad times bring out the best in people. It will not always be the prettiest, but over

time people can change, they can adapt. "Tragedy is essentially an expression, not of despair but

of the triumph over despair and of the confidence in the value of human life (Krutch).

"There are people in this world who are unfortunate and people who are losers (Botton).

You can chose to be one of these, and that same one, can chose how they react to that unfortunate
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event. I am going to relate this to Before the Law, The man sat in front of that door for years

waiting the be let in, doing nothing. On one of his last days, he begged for admittance and it was

granted the doorkeeper stated that "no one else could ever be admitted here, since this gate was

made only for you(Kafta). To me this shows that you are the only one who can change

something. Do not let rules or labels stop you from fighting through the bad times.

Tragedies are confusing, complex, yet kind of a beautiful thing, that in so many words is

hard to explain. Everyone is trying to define tragedy yet, I titled this paper What do you think,

was it tragedy? for somewhat of a trick question because my definition of a tragedy is fairly

simple, but it's what I believe. I told you all of this information about this topic, but it could

literally mean nothing to you, because we all have different perceptions of tragedy. Maybe I

helped, maybe not. So if you think it's a tragedy, then it is that does not mean I think it is too.

When this comes full circle, we need to define it by ourselves, and for ourselves!

Rubric

Works Cited

"Antigone unit." Kafka Parable: Before the Law

Ariely, Dan. "Are we in control of our own decisions." Ted Talk, Dec. 2008,

ted.com/talks/dan_ariely_ask_are we_ in _control _of_ our_ decisions?language=en.

Accessed 14 Nov.2016
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De Botton, Alain. "A Kinder Gentler Philosophy of Success." Ted Talk, July 2009,

https://www.tedtalk.com/talks/alain_de_botton_a_kinder_gentler_philosphy_of_success.

Accessed 14 Nov. 26

"Oedipus." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Oct.-Nov. 2016. Web. 2 Nov. 2016.

Sophocles, and Richard Emil Braun. Antigone. New York: Oxford UP, 1973. Print.

Sophocles, and R. D. Dawe. Oedipus Rex. Stutgardiae: B.G. Teubner, 1996. Print.

"Sophocles." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2016.

"Tragedy." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2016.

"Tragedy of the Commons." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2016.

Revenge Play." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 02 Nov.

Krutch, Joseph Wood. The Tragic Fallacy. N.p.: Publisher Not Identified, n.d. Print.

Miller, Arthur. "Tragedy and the Common Man." Jewish Quarterly 62.4 (2015): 62-63. Web. 7

Nov. 16.