Shakespearean Tragedies and Inconsistencies of the Renaissance ERA

This research explores the elements of tragedy in selected Shakespearean dramas. The Greek philosopher Aristotle investigated and defined tragedy's nature, while the dramatists of ancient Greece cemented its characteristics and qualities. Shakespeare defied the established conventions by classics to get closer to reality. The theories presented by Irving Ribner and A. C. Bradley support this study. Three key points of view that define Shakespeare as a dramatist show his concept of tragedy: the tragic hero, the tragic action (or plot), and catharsis, which this essay tries to explain. This research shows the characteristics of Shakespearean tragedies by comparing them with Greek tragedies. A Shakespearean tragedy has many qualities, as it shows inconsistencies of the Renaissance era, foreshadows romanticism and realism, and shows the human psyche. Shakespeare's humanism best demonstrates by the fact that he has such a deep appreciation for the suffering of the human spirit.