Lecture 3- Oliver Twist: Melodrama and Tragedy

The Characteristics of Melodrama

Lecture 3
Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist
The main characteristics of Melodrama

- A melodrama has five characteristics, namely:

a. Sensationalism and extravagant emotional appeal.

b. The characters are either very virtuous or very evil.
c. Evil intrigues.
d. Coincidences.
e. Unknown identity.

a. Sensationalism and extravagant emotional appeal:

Sensationalism means that the novelist concentrates on what is
sensational i.e. what will attract the reader's attention; for example,
adventure, violence, fear, criminals, murder and suspense.
Extravagant emotional appeal means that the novelist presents
excessive emotions. In a melodrama, there is much weeping,
shouting, anger, happiness, and feeling sorry for the characters.

b. The characters are either very virtuous or very evil:

- In a melodrama, the heroes are flat types; the hero is always pure,
innocent and virtuous. The hero never changes from the beginning
till the end of the novel. The hero is usually forced to face the evil
world around him.
- The story in a melodrama revolves around the obstacles that the
innocent hero will confront and overcome in a corrupt, violent and
evil world.
- The evil character is always a cruel monster who has no mercy or
moral values.
- All characters in a melodrama, good or bad, lack credibility.

c. Evil intrigues:
- The action of a melodrama revolves around evil intrigues, where
evil characters plan or plot to harm or destroy the hero i.e. the
reader finds it difficult to believe that such characters really exist in
life.

d. Coincidences:
- A melodrama always has many unbelievable coincidences.

e. Unknown identity:
- The identity of the hero in a melodrama is always a mystery and
remains so until the end of the novel.

· The difference between melodrama and tragedy:

It is worth mentioning in this respect that a melodrama is different
from a tragedy. A melodrama usually has a happy ending, while a
tragedy has an unhappy and tragic ending; it usually ends with the
death of the hero or the heroine as a result of his or her flaws or
weaknesses, who is called the tragic hero or heroine.
Suggested references:
Heilman, R. B. Tragedy and Melodrama: Versions Experience.
Seattle: Washington State University, 1968.