Tragicomedy
Tragicomedy is a literary tool utilized in fictional works. It incorporates both tragedy and comedy. Mostly, the characters in tragicomedy are exaggerated, and occasionally there might be a happy finishing after a sequence of unfortunate events. It is integrated with jokes throughout the tale, simply to lighten the tone.
Examples of Tragicomedy in Literature
Example #1: The Merchant of Venice (By William Shakespeare)
The Merchant of Venice through William Shakespeare is considered one of the most popular traditional tragicomedy examples. Though it has a comedic structure, there are tragic characters, along with Shylock (who is a relevant character), and tragic events, such as Antonio’s “loss” of lifestyles (due to the fact he isn't truely dead).
Although the play ends on a happy observe with the union of the lovers within the story, and Antonio is saved from a sad incident, readers are left with a taste of Shylock’s sufferings. Hence, the sensation and mood of the play at the give up is neither satisfied nor gloomy. Though, this play without a doubt has a comedian structure, it also has a sturdy tragic tale. Therefore, it is able to be labeled as a tragicomedy.
Example #2: The Cherry Orchard (By Anton Chekhov)
Anton Chekhov’s play, The Cherry Orchard, turned out to be his final play that has a aggregate of comedy and tragedy. It is the story of an elite circle of relatives that is at the verge of dropping its inherited estate. As this play is primarily based on an inevitable social change, which came with the dawn of the 20th century, it offers the give up of an aristocratic era, combined with tragic and comedian factors. The comic elements may be seen within the behavior, humorous elements, and absence of obligation of the characters.
Example #3: Waiting for Godot (By Samuel Beckett)
Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot can also be considered one of the high-quality examples of tragicomedy. There are many gestures, dialogues, actions, and situations which are packed with pure comedy. All varieties of musical gadgets have been used to create laughter.
The overall surroundings is that of a dark-comedy. For example, Vladimir is determined not to pay attention to Estragon’s nightmare. However, the latter continues pleading with him to concentrate. Similarly, Estragon takes to the air and places on his shoes several instances whilst Vladimir performs with his hat once more and again. On the opposite hand, comedy turns into a tragedy due to the haplessness of these tramps. Vladimir and Estragon wait for somebody who does now not come, which makes them disappointed. During the course of time, they indulge themselves in meaningless activities.
Example #4: The Winter’s Tale (By William Shakespeare)
Shakespearean tragicomedies have complex and dubious plots. One of his ideal tragicomedies is The Winter’s Tale. The first three acts are both tragic and serious, while the final two acts are based totally on pastoral romance, roguery, songs, humor, and reunion. A sheep-shearing birthday celebration with the elegant, innocent Perdita serving as a hostess, dancing and making a song with shepherds, is suggestive of rural lifestyles in England. The combo of suffering, sorrows, humor, romance, forgiveness, and reunion inside the play confirms its label as a tragicomedy. There are one of a kind elements of the tragicomedy within the play that include: tragic elements, comedian factors, romantic factors, and a satisfied finishing.
Example #5: The Caretaker (By Harold Pinteris)
The Caretaker, written by using Harold Pinteris, is mixed with two modes, tragedy and comedy, and is a exceptional cutting-edge example of tragicomedy. The comedian elements come out in the monologues of Mick and Davies, and even the interactions among characters occasionally method farce. Davies’ repetition, confusion, and deceit of the brothers makes the play comedic. However, the tragic detail appears in the climatic monologue of Anton, regarding his surprise treatments, at the cease of the play and in “that place,” although its finishing is extremely ambiguous.
Example #6: Marriage à la Mode (By John Dryden)
John Dryden’s Marriage à los angeles Mode is a a success comedy that merges special plots of recovery comedy of manners and romantic tragicomedy. The double plot encompasses the idea that marriage both creates hope and brings regrets, it each opens opportunities and denies opportunities.
Function of Tragicomedy
The main purpose of tragicomedy is to describe the dual nature of reality, where each modes can coexist, possibly simultaneously. Therefore, the interweaving of each elements gives each a comic and tragic view of life. Tragicomedy is mainly utilized in dramas and theater. Since tragic plays consciousness solely on protagonists, while comedian performs are devoid of cognizance and concern, therefore performs that fell among these two categories have been developed. These forms of performs gift each modes of existence through absurdity and seriousness.
Popular Literary Devices
- Ad Hominem
- Adage
- Allegory
- Alliteration
- Allusion
- Ambiguity
- Anachronism
- Anagram
- Analogy
- Anapest
- Anaphora
- Anecdote
- Antagonist
- Antecedent
- Antimetabole
- Antithesis
- Aphorism
- Aposiopesis
- Apostrophe
- Archaism
- Archetype
- Argument
- Assonance
- Biography
- Cacophony
- Cadence
- Caricature
- Catharsis
- Characterization
- Cliché
- Climax
- Colloquialism
- Comparison
- Conflict
- Connotation
- Consonance
- Denotation
- Deus Ex Machina
- Dialect
- Dialogue
- Diction
- Didacticism
- Discourse
- Doppelganger
- Double Entendre
- Ellipsis
- Epiphany
- Epitaph
- Essay
- Ethos
- Eulogy
- Euphemism
- Evidence
- Exposition
- Fable
- Fallacy
- Flash Forward
- Foil
- Foreshadowing
- Genre
- Haiku
- Half Rhyme
- Hubris
- Hyperbaton
- Hyperbole
- Idiom
- Imagery
- Induction
- Inference
- Innuendo
- Internal Rhyme
- Irony
- Jargon
- Juxtaposition
- Limerick
- Line Break
- Logos
- Meiosis
- Memoir
- Metaphor
- Meter
- Mood
- Motif
- Narrative
- Nemesis
- Non Sequitur
- Ode
- Onomatopoeia
- Oxymoron
- Palindrome
- Parable
- Paradox
- Parallelism
- Parataxis
- Parody
- Pathetic Fallacy
- Pathos
- Pentameter
- Persona
- Personification
- Plot
- Poem
- Poetic Justice
- Point of View
- Portmanteau
- Propaganda
- Prose
- Protagonist
- Pun
- Red Herring
- Repetition
- Rhetoric
- Rhyme
- Rhythm
- Sarcasm
- Satire
- Simile
- Soliloquy
- Sonnet
- Style
- Superlative
- Syllogism
- Symbolism
- Synecdoche
- Synesthesia
- Syntax
- Tautology
- Theme
- Thesis
- Tone
- Tragedy
- Tragicomedy
- Tragic Flaw
- Transition
- Utopia
- Verisimilitude