Revenge tragedy
Why have gore-filled stories about revenge and tragedy entertained man since ancient times? This paper will attempt to answer this question as well as define what a revenge tragedy is and analyze how the genre has evolved over time. Three revenge tragedy stories will be analyzed; The Spanish Tragedy (1588), Titus Andronicus (1593), and Scarface (1983). There are numerous different definitions for the revenge tragedy genre. For this paper I decided to merge a couple different definitions to define the genre as accurately and as completely as possible. Revenge tragedy is a form of drama in which the dominant motive is revenge for a real or imagined injury and provides the driving force of the action. It is usually characterized by bloody deeds, intrigue, insanity, high melodrama, and the death of the protagonist. The revenge tragedy drama was established on the English stage by Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy. The Spanish Tragedy tells the tale of a Spanish Courtier named Andrea who is killed in battle by the prince of Portugal, Balthazar. The gods allow him to return from the underworld with the spirit of Revenge. Balthazar is under the custody of Lorenzo and Horatio. Balthazar falls in love with Andrea's lover Bel
The revenge tragedy genre has evolved significantly since its inception. In most cases the protagonist gets his or her revenge and lives happily ever after. People can't always take vengeance on their enemies so they like to see it played out in other forms such as books, plays, movies, and other forms of entertainment. When Horatio's father Hieronimo learns of his son's death he is consumed by grief and begins his quest for vengeance. Today's audience is more educated and sophisticated compared to the audience during Shakespeare's time. Eventually Tony develops feelings for the boss's wife. Today, revenge stories are very popular but they are not usually tragic. Scarface has all of the essential elements of a revenge tragedy story. Titus, a respected Roman General, sacrifices the queen of the Goths son which awards Titus Tamora's hatred. Graphic violence and tragedy are not usually enough for today's audience. Revenge is a prevalent theme throughout the movie which is also chock-full of graphic violence, intrigue, betrayal, and insanity. Modern revenge stories also seem to focus more on ethical considerations as opposed to focusing on bloody carnage to shock and horrify the audience. Modern audiences seem to expect a movie to end neatly and happily especially action and drama movies. In conclusion, the revenge tragedy genre has existed for a very long time and will continue to be used as a framework for multiple stories to come.
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