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Tragicomedy is a dramatic work that combines elements of both tragedy and comedy. It originated from ancient Greek drama, featuring both high and low characters. In the Renaissance, it referred to works that did not fit into either category. In the 20th century, tragicomedy evolved into works of melodrama and was revisited by playwrights such as Beckett and Stoppard, who presented serious themes through absurdity and comedy.
A “tragicomedy” is a dramatic work that does not necessarily fit adequately into a tragic or comic picture, or that combines elements of each. In its original meaning, it typically referred to plays and similar plays that featured both gods and kings alongside slaves and peasants in a setting that suited neither. Later the term referred to plays that did not have the amount of death needed for a tragedy, but also could not fully be classified as comedies. Throughout the 20th century, however, tragicomedy was popularized as a work that combines both elements more succinctly through events that are bittersweet at best.
The early use of the term “tragicomedy” stemmed from ancient Greek drama. In that context, the term was used to refer to works that included both “high” and “low” characters. These roles were usually reserved for certain works and were often mutually exclusive. A single drama written as a tragicomedy might include the gods, who usually only appeared among themselves and rulers, alongside slaves and peasants. These types of works have often been criticized and seen as experimental or failures of drama.
During the Renaissance, and afterward, the idea of tragicomedy was altered to mean a dramatic work that did not quite fit into either main category. A tragedy is typically considered a work with serious and dramatic elements, ultimately ending in the death of one or more characters. In contrast, a play is a play that typically includes lighter elements and more importantly ends without death and often features a wedding at the conclusion.
A tragicomedy has become a work that was quite serious in tone, sometimes with funny moments, which might seem like it would lead to death, but it doesn’t. This could be due to a sudden twist of fate or a change in history. They might be very serious works, but the lack of death ultimately precluded them from being categorized as tragedies. These types of comedies eventually evolved into works of melodrama, which continue into the present.
In the 20th century, however, the idea of tragicomedy was revisited again. Playwrights such as Samuel Beckett and Tom Stoppard created works that included both comedy and tragedy, often intertwined. These plays had quite serious, sometimes tragic themes, but presented them through absurdity and comedy. This type of tragicomedy is often intended as a way to illustrate the dual nature of reality, where both extremes coexist, often at the same time.
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