Brandon Scribner

6/16/18
Comp 201 World Literature
Dr. Victor Gomia
Paper 2

The Greeks defined tragedy as a play with a protagonist, usually a person of importance and

outstanding personal qualities, falls to disaster through the combination of personal failing and

circumstances with which he or she cannot deal. In the of these characters they many of times would not

notice the irony or tragedy of their downfall. Either so obsessed with the defeat of others or the complex

interactions in their own mind. Participants of tragedy are by definition victims but only by their own

hand which gives us the sense of irony. Both Antigone by Sophocles and Hamlet by William Shakespeare

show detailed examples by definition of tragedy.

Hamlet is considered a tragedy because this is little happiness present in the story and no happy

ending was presented. The central themes around death and uncertainty keep this play very dark and filled

with terror. The mechanic of the story influences the rules of Greek tragedy. Hamlet is our choice of

tragic hero because although he is extremely witty and philosophical Hamlet is thoughtful to the point of

being obsessed and acts very rashly. Hamlet’s rash actions lead to Polonius’ death in which without

thinking to check behind the curtain Hamlet stabs him. Hamlet’s mind wonders also to the afterlife

sending complex contemplations of suicide and what happens to bodies once they die. Morbid in his mind

and actions Hamlet could also be placed into the category of the madman. His actions are violent, erratic,

and mysterious to the point of giving terror to other characters. Hamlet speaks of Ophelia as though

someone he once loved but also speaks with hate. Themes of distrust and disgust of woman ride true with

this character throughout the play.

Antigone is a tragedy because it followed all five rules of Aristotle’s rules of Greek tragedy. The

five rules of Aristotle in short are that all plays must have catharsis, a tragic hero, a change in fortune
within a character, must be poetic, and happen in one location, in one day, and is closely related.

Catharsis is defined by showing pity or terror. This is prevalent in many characters and scenes in the play.

Creon, the king is seen as the tragic hero of the play. His arrogance is his tragic flaw and the eventual

downfall of him as a character and king. He boasts about his future punishment of Antigone, and although

he never does the punishments to full effect. He puts out to the public that he is a strict and cruel ruler.

The change in fortune can be shown with Antigone as the example because she wanted only to bury her

dead brother. Which is a seemingly harmless tradition but because of Creon and his thoughts of treason

she is sentenced to death. The play setting is easy to visualize while reading, and the themes are clearly of

pride, tyranny, and the opposition of death. The mixture makes for a great mental picture.