Abstract
Abstract More, perhaps, has been written about tragedy than about any other dramatic form, and yet two of the mainstays of tragic drama—the big speech and the lament—have received relatively little attention. This is surprising not least because death, even if it does not always constitute ‘the necessary action’, is always present as ‘a necessary actor’ in tragic drama. And death as ‘action’ and death as ‘actor’ receives, of course, its fullest articulation through the big speech and the lament respectively. This paper will demonstrate, with comparative evidence drawn from Greek tragedy and modern Irish tragic drama, that a consideration of the last words uttered by both the dying characters and the chief mourners alike must be central to any discussion concerning the effect of tragedy.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.