Shakespearean TragedyShakespearean Tragedy

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet: Archetypes : Archetypes and the theory of the tragic and the theory of the tragic

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Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

ArchetypesArchetypes An archetype is a pattern from which copies can be made. An archetype is a pattern from which copies can be made. Archetypes fall into two major categories: characters and Archetypes fall into two major categories: characters and

situations/symbols. situations/symbols. Characters include: Characters include: The hero: the courageous figure, the one who's always running in and The hero: the courageous figure, the one who's always running in and

saving the day. Example: Dartagnon from Alexandre Dumas's “The saving the day. Example: Dartagnon from Alexandre Dumas's “The Three Musketeers.” Three Musketeers.”

The outcast: The outcast is just that. He or she has been cast out of The outcast: The outcast is just that. He or she has been cast out of society or has left it on a voluntary basis. The outcast figure can often society or has left it on a voluntary basis. The outcast figure can often also be considered as a Christ-like figure. Example: Snowball from also be considered as a Christ-like figure. Example: Snowball from George Orwell’s George Orwell’s Animal FarmAnimal Farm. .

The scapegoat: The scapegoat figure is the one who gets blamed for The scapegoat: The scapegoat figure is the one who gets blamed for everything, regardless of whether he or she is actually at fault. everything, regardless of whether he or she is actually at fault. Example: Piggy from William Golding’s Example: Piggy from William Golding’s The Lord of The Flies. The Lord of The Flies.

SOURCE: http://www.essortment.com/all/literaryarchety_rabl.htmSOURCE: http://www.essortment.com/all/literaryarchety_rabl.htm

Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

The star-crossed lovers: This is the The star-crossed lovers: This is the young couple joined by love but young couple joined by love but unexpectedly parted by fate. Example: unexpectedly parted by fate. Example: Romeo and Juliet from William Romeo and Juliet from William Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.Romeo and Juliet.

Romeo and Juliet have been Romeo and Juliet have been immortalized as the archetypes of true immortalized as the archetypes of true love because they are willing to love because they are willing to sacrifice everything —including sacrifice everything —including themselves —for their love. themselves —for their love.

The Tragic FlawThe Tragic Flaw

Three views of tragedy:Three views of tragedy:Catastrophe results from a flaw in Catastrophe results from a flaw in

the character of the hero.the character of the hero.The hero’s tragic flaw results from The hero’s tragic flaw results from

fate or coincidence.fate or coincidence.Tragedy results from an error of Tragedy results from an error of

judgment committed by the hero, judgment committed by the hero, one that may or may not have as its one that may or may not have as its source a weakness in character.source a weakness in character.

The Tragic FlawThe Tragic Flaw

Typically, tragic protagonists make Typically, tragic protagonists make mistakes; they misjudge other mistakes; they misjudge other characters, they misinterpret events, characters, they misinterpret events, and they confuse appearance with and they confuse appearance with reality.reality.

Often, the hero’s fall from glory Often, the hero’s fall from glory crushes not only himself but other crushes not only himself but other related characters.related characters.

The Tragic FlawThe Tragic Flaw

Aristotle’s criteria for tragedy:Aristotle’s criteria for tragedy: The hero is of noble birth or occupies a The hero is of noble birth or occupies a

highly respected, public position.highly respected, public position. In a tragedy, the hero is not necessarily In a tragedy, the hero is not necessarily

good or just, but his misfortune is brought good or just, but his misfortune is brought about by some error or frailty, rather than about by some error or frailty, rather than by vice or depravity.by vice or depravity.

A tragedy tracks the hero’s gradual A tragedy tracks the hero’s gradual downfall, usually brought about by his own downfall, usually brought about by his own misjudgment.misjudgment.

The Tragic FlawThe Tragic Flaw

The play progresses logically, The play progresses logically, showing the audience the step-by-showing the audience the step-by-step events that lead to destruction step events that lead to destruction and death.and death.

This is the tragic flaw: It may be This is the tragic flaw: It may be caused by bad judgment, inherited caused by bad judgment, inherited weakness, or any of several other weakness, or any of several other possible causes of error.possible causes of error.

The Tragic FlawThe Tragic Flaw

Shakespeare’s tragic heroes are made Shakespeare’s tragic heroes are made of the stuff we find within ourselves of the stuff we find within ourselves and within the people around us.and within the people around us.

In almost all instances, we see a In almost all instances, we see a marked one-sidedness, a marked one-sidedness, a predisposition in some particular predisposition in some particular direction; a fatal tendency to identify direction; a fatal tendency to identify the whole being with one interest, the whole being with one interest, object, passion, or habit of mind.object, passion, or habit of mind.

The Tragic FlawThe Tragic Flaw

So how does this apply to So how does this apply to Romeo and Romeo and Juliet?Juliet?

Romeo can be seen as a tragic hero.Romeo can be seen as a tragic hero. He is from a highly respected family.He is from a highly respected family. Some have identified his flaw as falling in Some have identified his flaw as falling in

love too deeply and too quickly.love too deeply and too quickly. His rash behavior comes out in other His rash behavior comes out in other

ways: For example, he would not have ways: For example, he would not have rushed to kill himself as soon as he rushed to kill himself as soon as he believed that Juliet was dead. believed that Juliet was dead.

The Tragic FlawThe Tragic Flaw

Romeo also makes a series of bad Romeo also makes a series of bad decisions. He doesn’t think before he decisions. He doesn’t think before he acts:acts:

He goes to the Capulet party.He goes to the Capulet party. It was unnecessary to step in It was unnecessary to step in

between Mercutio and Tybalt.between Mercutio and Tybalt.He rashly kills Paris.He rashly kills Paris.He decides to commit suicide.He decides to commit suicide.

The Tragic FlawThe Tragic Flaw

Romeo’s actions affect others:Romeo’s actions affect others:Mercutio, Tybalt, and Paris all die.Mercutio, Tybalt, and Paris all die.Lady Montague dies of grief.Lady Montague dies of grief.Because of Romeo, Juliet kills herself.Because of Romeo, Juliet kills herself.

All of these are ingredients for a tragic All of these are ingredients for a tragic hero.hero.

The Tragic FlawThe Tragic Flaw

Some disagree with the notion of the “flaw,” Some disagree with the notion of the “flaw,” especially in especially in Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet. Theorist Russ . Theorist Russ McDonald says:McDonald says:

Brash and independent children, the young lovers Brash and independent children, the young lovers look to unite in a deceptive and corrupt world.look to unite in a deceptive and corrupt world.

While there is haste in their romance and While there is haste in their romance and carelessness with which they act (“They stumble that carelessness with which they act (“They stumble that run fast,” as Friar Laurence says), it is passionate run fast,” as Friar Laurence says), it is passionate love, both physical and spiritual, that destroys them, love, both physical and spiritual, that destroys them, but that is also what draws us to them.but that is also what draws us to them.

Shakespeare does not present their passion as a flaw. Shakespeare does not present their passion as a flaw. Their tragedy is attributed to fate.Their tragedy is attributed to fate.

The Tragic FlawThe Tragic Flaw

The simple honesty of youth is set against the The simple honesty of youth is set against the obstacles of their heritage, present against obstacles of their heritage, present against past.past.

Shakespeare invites the audience to Shakespeare invites the audience to sympathize with the lovers and to wish for a sympathize with the lovers and to wish for a world in which the quarreling parents could world in which the quarreling parents could be brought to their senses; Tybalt could be brought to their senses; Tybalt could welcome his enemies to the party; Friar John welcome his enemies to the party; Friar John could have delivered that darn message to could have delivered that darn message to Romeo.Romeo.

““If only” is the persistent theme.If only” is the persistent theme.