BRUTUS as tragic protagonist Thursday, 15 November 2018
What is tragedy? Shakespeare was influenced by the 1st century writer Seneca. He was a Roman, writing plays which were influenced by the great Greek tragedies of 4 centuries earlier. Let’s look at the features of SENECAN tragedy:
Senecan tragedy: Obsessed with “crime” Preoccupation with mutilation and torture Witchcraft and the supernatural – think of Macbeth! “vaulting ambition” Ghosts calling for revenge Use of “stichomythia” in dialogue – passages where characters speak in alternate lines.
Is this BRUTUS? Can Brutus be said to be obsessed by crime? Consider the evidence of 2.1 Mutilation and torture? The Supernatural? Ambition? Revenge? Ghosts?
Doing well… now consider this: Classical tragedy, as explained by Aristotle, a 4th Century BC Greek, is based around these elements: The fall from grace of a good person A tragic flaw leading to the fall
There’s more: These plays have a set structure: The “exposition” or the part where the protagonist makes the mistake that will lead to his fall. The “reversal” when the character realises his error. The “catastrophe” - when the inevitable happens.
IS this Brutus? We are left in little doubt that Brutus is good Brutus acts out of a misguided idealism. Is this his flaw? The outcome is inevitable once Caesar is dead, BUT more than that, if Brutus is seen as contributing to his own fate is he more tragic still?
SO… Brutus seems to fit into the tragic scheme. Shakespeare did not know the Greek dramas, so was this intentional? Why is the play not called “Brutus” do you think?