What is Aristotelian concept of tragedy? How does Shakespeare’s concept of tragedy differ from Aristotle’s? [British Drama]

The Aristotelian concept of tragedy is based on Aristotle's Poetics, a treatise on the nature of tragedy and the principles of dramatic construction. According to Aristotle, tragedy is a serious drama that portrays the fall of a noble hero from a high social status to a lower one, due to a tragic flaw or error in judgment. The fall of the hero is brought about by the protagonist's own actions, rather than by external circumstances. Through the suffering of the hero, the audience experiences a sense of catharsis, or purification of their emotions.

Shakespeare's concept of tragedy differs from Aristotle's in several ways. Firstly, Shakespeare often deviates from the Aristotelian idea of a noble hero falling from a high status, and instead portrays characters from a wide range of social classes. In many of his plays, such as "Hamlet" and "Othello," the protagonists are not necessarily noble, but are driven to their downfall by a combination of internal flaws and external circumstances.

Secondly, Shakespeare's concept of tragedy often focuses more on character development and psychological motivation than on the fall of the hero. In many of his plays, the audience is given a deep understanding of the protagonist's motivations, fears, and desires, and the character's inner conflict is central to the play's tragic narrative.

In conclusion, while Aristotle's concept of tragedy provides a useful framework for understanding the nature of tragedy, Shakespeare's plays offer a more complex and nuanced understanding of the genre. Shakespeare's concept of tragedy incorporates elements of Aristotle's ideas, but also deviates from them in important ways, exploring themes of human nature, character development, and psychological motivation in new and innovative ways.