Introduction- Welcome to an exploration of two forces that have shaped English drama for centuries: tragedy and comedy. These aren’t just theatrical categories—they’re mirrors held up to human nature itself. Tragedy shows us noble characters brought low by their own flaws or the cruelty of fate, making us feel both pity and fear. Comedy, meanwhile, […]
The Evolution of Tragedy and Comedy in English Literature Read More »
Introduction- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was an Irish playwright, critic, and social reformer. He wrote over 60 plays and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925. Shaw was known for his wit, sharp social criticism, and belief in social reform. He was also a member of the Fabian Society, which worked for gradual social
George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man Read More »
Introduction- Aristophanes’ The Frogs, performed in 405 BCE, is a brilliant Athenian comedy that blends satire, fantasy, and cultural critique. Amid the Peloponnesian War’s turmoil, the play follows Dionysus, the god of theater, on a journey to the Underworld to retrieve the tragic poet Euripides, believing his art can save Athens. Accompanied by his slave
Aristophanes’ Frogs Explained Simply Read More »
Introduction- Euripides’ Greek tragedy Medea, performed in 431 BCE, is a profoundly poignant examination of the mind of Medea, a woman who sacrifices everything for her husband, Jason, only to be deceived when he leaves her for a marriage that benefits him politically. Medea’s deliberate act of retaliation questions social mores as well as the
Medea’s Revenge: Euripides’ Timeless Tragic Tale Read More »
Introduction- The first play of the Oresteia trilogy, Aeschylus’ Agamemnon, is a great work of Greek tragedy that was first performed around 458 BCE. Set in the time after the Trojan War, it tells the story of King Agamemnon’s return to Argos, when his wife Clytemnestra betrays and kills him. This scary play looks at
Agamemnon’s Tale of Justice and Retribution Read More »
Introduction Antigone, a Greek tragedy by Sophocles, explores the conflict between individual conscience and state authority. Written around 441 BCE, it follows Antigone, a young woman who defies King Creon’s edict to bury her brother Polyneices. The play explores duty, morality, and the consequences of inflexible principles, highlighting the human spirit and societal tensions. Its
Antigone by Sophocles: Duty and Defiance Read More »
Introduction: In the early years of Elizabethan dramatist Ben Jonson, his personal life was more complex than that of Shakespeare. Jonson was a public figure, known for his dramatic commentary on literature and philosophy, highly personalized poems, and heavy involvement in royal entertainments of King James I and Charles I. He was more honored than
Volpone by Ben Jonson: Greed and Deception Read More »