Sinister, unearthly, sometimes even all-knowing: Ghosts and metaphysical entities accompany stories, legends and and superstitious tales throughout the centuries. They are doomed as evil and satanic, or used to illustrate morality by “settling” their earthly bussiness with human evil-doers. They might even be good, yet can never completely to be trusted. Their connection with the dead makes them attractive as characters with powers above the human boundries.
In the Elizabethan drama as in contrast to modern dramas, supernatural events and entities such as ghosts, apparitions, dreams and visions play a major and sometimes even crucial role in the plot. In this paper I would like to take a closer look at the Elizabethan fascination with the “unseen”, how authors implemented it into their plays and what roles these ghosts and dreams played. Introductory I will look at the general view of the unnatrural from the Renaissance perspective.
In order to stay within the proper range of this paper I have chosen a selection of four tragedies written by four different playwrights. In each of the plays, a ghostly character appears, mostly in dreamlike visions. I would like to discuss the scenes in which these characters appear and compare the characters with another in the conclusion of the paper.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The natural and unnatural in the Renaissance philosophy
- 3. Ghosts and Dreams:
- 3.1 The Ghost of Don Andrea in Thomas Kyd's „The Spanish Tragedy”
- 3.2 The Ghost of Montferres in Thomas Middleton's „The Atheist's Tragedy”
- 3.3 The Ghost of Brachiano in John Webster's "The White Devil"
- 3.4 The Ghosts of Shakespeare's Richard III
- 4. Conclusion
- 5. Bibliography
Objectives and Key Themes
This term paper examines the use of ghosts and dreams in selected Elizabethan revenge tragedies. The paper aims to explore the Elizabethan fascination with the "unseen," how playwrights integrated supernatural elements into their plots, and the roles these elements played in the narratives. The analysis focuses on a selection of four tragedies to stay within the scope of the assignment.
- The Renaissance worldview and its duality between the natural and supernatural.
- The role of ghosts and dreams in Elizabethan revenge tragedies.
- The use of supernatural elements to illuminate the psychological state of the revenger.
- Comparison of ghost characters across different plays.
- Social criticism through the use of supernatural elements.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by discussing the historical context of ghosts and supernatural entities in storytelling, particularly focusing on their representation in Elizabethan drama. It highlights the prevalence of ghosts, apparitions, dreams, and visions within Elizabethan plays and their significance to the plot. The chapter introduces the selection of four tragedies to be analyzed and previews the paper's approach to comparing the use of ghosts and dreams in those plays.
2. The natural and unnatural in the Renaissance philosophy: This chapter delves into the Renaissance worldview, characterized by a duality between the natural and spiritual realms. It explores the philosophical perspectives of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras, noting the blurring of lines between the perceivable and imperceptible, making the supernatural a tangible element in the plays. The chapter discusses the philosophical underpinnings that allowed for the acceptance and popularity of supernatural elements like ghosts in the revenge tragedy genre, citing the works of Hardin Craig and Pierre Charron. The chapter connects the acceptance of supernatural elements to the then-popular revenge tragedy genre, showcasing the philosophical context for this popularity.
Keywords
Elizabethan drama, revenge tragedy, ghosts, dreams, supernatural, Renaissance philosophy, duality, psychological state, social criticism, Thomas Kyd, Thomas Middleton, John Webster, Shakespeare.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Elizabethan Revenge Tragedies and the Supernatural
What is the main topic of this academic paper?
This term paper examines the use of ghosts and dreams in selected Elizabethan revenge tragedies. It explores the Elizabethan fascination with the "unseen," how playwrights integrated supernatural elements into their plots, and the roles these elements played in the narratives. The analysis focuses on four tragedies: The Spanish Tragedy, The Atheist's Tragedy, The White Devil, and Richard III.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes, including: the Renaissance worldview and its duality between the natural and supernatural; the role of ghosts and dreams in Elizabethan revenge tragedies; the use of supernatural elements to illuminate the psychological state of the revenger; a comparison of ghost characters across different plays; and social criticism through the use of supernatural elements.
Which plays are analyzed in the paper?
The paper analyzes four Elizabethan revenge tragedies: Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy, Thomas Middleton's The Atheist's Tragedy, John Webster's The White Devil, and Shakespeare's Richard III. The analysis focuses on the use of ghosts and dreams within these plays.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured as follows: an introduction setting the historical and dramatic context; a chapter exploring the Renaissance philosophical duality between the natural and supernatural; a chapter analyzing the use of ghosts and dreams in the four selected plays; a conclusion summarizing the findings; and a bibliography.
What is the purpose of analyzing ghosts and dreams in these plays?
The analysis aims to understand how these supernatural elements function within the plays' narratives, illuminating the psychological states of the characters involved and exploring broader themes of social criticism within the Elizabethan context. The paper also seeks to compare and contrast the use of these elements across the different plays.
What are some of the key philosophical concepts discussed?
The paper discusses the Renaissance worldview and its acceptance of a blurred line between the natural and supernatural worlds. It references the philosophical underpinnings that allowed for the popularity of supernatural elements in revenge tragedies, citing relevant works by Hardin Craig and Pierre Charron.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include: Elizabethan drama, revenge tragedy, ghosts, dreams, supernatural, Renaissance philosophy, duality, psychological state, social criticism, Thomas Kyd, Thomas Middleton, John Webster, and Shakespeare.
What does the chapter on the Renaissance worldview cover?
This chapter examines the philosophical context of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras, highlighting the prevailing beliefs and attitudes towards the supernatural. It explores how this worldview allowed for the seamless integration of supernatural elements such as ghosts into the dramatic narratives of the time, particularly within the revenge tragedy genre.
What is covered in the introduction?
The introduction sets the historical context of ghosts and supernatural entities in Elizabethan storytelling, focusing on their representation in drama. It outlines the significance of ghosts, apparitions, dreams, and visions in Elizabethan plays and previews the paper's approach to comparing the use of ghosts and dreams in the four selected tragedies.
- Quote paper
- Tinani van Niekerk (Author), 2007, Ghosts and dreams in the renaissance drama: A comparison between selected tragedies, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/72608
