tragedie

Tragedie, the form referred to as tragedy in English and tragedie in French, is a dramatic genre that presents serious, morally charged situations in which protagonists suffer, face downfall, or experience catastrophe. The term derives from the Greek tragḗidía, literally “goat song,” and entered Latin as tragēdia before spreading to the vernacular languages.

Origins and development. Classical tragedy emerged in ancient Athens in the 5th century BCE with playwrights such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. It centers on a noble or high-status protagonist who possesses a tragic flaw (hamartia) or makes a misjudgment, leading to reversal (peripeteia) and recognition (anagnorisis). The audience’s emotional response, catharsis, was believed to be a key purpose. Traditionally the plays featured a chorus and elevated verse.

Global and historical variations. In French literature, tragedie denotes serious drama by authors such as Corneille and Racine, often examining fate, passion, and conflicts between duty and desire. In English and other traditions, tragedy evolved through Shakespeare’s plays and later dramatists such as Ibsen and Strindberg, who expanded the form with realism, social critique, and existential concerns. In modern usage, tragic drama may blend tragedy with elements of irony, social commentary, or even humor, giving rise to tragicomedy or related hybrids.

Characteristics and aims. Across traditions, tragedie typically treats serious themes—moral conflict, mortality, fate, and human frailty—and culminates in suffering, loss, or death. While the specifics vary by culture and era, the genre remains anchored in the exploration of human limits and the search for meaning amid catastrophe.