Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Which are best: Shakespeare's comedies, tragedies, or histories?
Position‹3 of 3

The tragedies are the best

Shakespeare's tragedies use Aristotle's theory of tragedy, featuring a tragic hero with a fatal flaw which causes his downfall. They are enduringly popular, with 'Hamlet' and 'Romeo and Juliet' remaining famous worldwide.

Supporting arguments · 3

  1. Shakespeare expanded the scope of what we consider tragic events
    Before Shakespeare's tragic plays, tragedy generally focused on a very specific type of hero and their downfall, but Shakespeare's expansion of tragic themes and roles meant that a large variety of events could be portrayed as tragic.
  2. Shakespeare's understanding of tragedy's structures has changed the way we think of tragic theatre
    Before Shakespeare's tragic writing, tragedy was governed by a strict set of Ancient Greek rules regarding place, time and action. His adaptation of those to suit his own needs and his development of multi-layered plots changed the theatrical conventions surrounding tragedy.
  3. Hamlet, Shakespeare's greatest work, is a tragedy
    Hamlet, written in 1599, is widely acknowledged as Shakespeare's masterpiece. It is a tragic play about the life of a young prince, but also contains comic elements and provides an excellent demonstration of Shakespeare's skill in character and dialogue.