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Shakespeare & Beyond

"Woeful tragedy," indeed

Masks of comedy and tragedy, Folger Shakespeare Library. (c) Prakash Patel Photography.

We’re told from a young age that tragedy teaches us important things about what it means to be human. But does it actually teach us anything, or simply reveal what we already know? We’re taught that tragedy is serious, insightful, and award-winning, but in my experience, it’s also bleak, depressing, and unsurprising… and much too much like real life. Spurn me, attack me in the comments, dismiss me as a sentimental and unserious thinker if you will, but I must speak my truth — Tragedy is highly overrated.

Comments

So you’d be up for Blithe Spirit rewritten in iambic pentameter?

Glenn Proven — September 30, 2021

I’m up for almost *anything* rewritten in iambic pentameter. See also: Droesher, Ian, author of iambic rewrites of MEAN GIRLS, BACK TO THE FUTURE, STAR WARS, and THE AVENGERS.

Austin Tichenor — October 26, 2021