Revenge tragedy is a theatrical genre whose principal theme is revenge and its fatal consequences, formally identified as a genre by the educator Ashley H. Thorndike in a 1902 article examining Hamlet alongside contemporaneous revenge plays. Its plots typically follow a protagonist in pursuit of vengeance, generally ending in tragedy for both the original wrongdoers and the avenger.
Facts
Place of OriginEarly modern Britain; the genre first appeared with the publication of Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy in the latter half of the sixteenth century. 1 Notable ExampleThomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy, published in the latter half of the sixteenth century, credited with introducing the genre to early modern Britain. 1 Defining TraitA theatrical genre whose principal theme is revenge and its fatal consequences; a revenge tragedy traces the protagonist's revenge plot and often culminates in the deaths of both the murderers and the avenger himself. 1 Connections
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Sources
1. Revenge Tragedy (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead section
Revenge tragedy (sometimes referred to as revenge drama, revenge play, or tragedy of blood) is a theatrical genre in which the principal theme is revenge and revenge's fatal consequences. Formally established by American educator Ashley H. Thorndike in his 1902 article "The Relations of Hamlet to Contemporary Revenge Plays," a revenge tragedy traces the protagonist's revenge plot and often culminates in the deaths of both the murderers and the avenger himself.
Lead section, second paragraph
The genre first appeared in early modern Britain with the publication of Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy during the latter half of the 16th century.
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