Student-designed final essay sample g

Upon taking “Tragedy” I had limited knowledge of the different genres and what characteristics made up each one.  Even though this class was fast paced, I definitely feel that the insight from the other students as well as the knowledge of the professor allowed me to increase my knowledge of tragedy at a quicker pace than expected.  Another element that facilitated the increased learning curve was the particular plays that were assigned in this class.  Each one seemed to deal with separate tragic events that allowed the student to view tragedy from multiple perspectives. 

            In Euripedes’ Medea the reader is confronted with trying to understand an ambiguous version of tragedy.  For example, the reader begins to feel that the tragedy could be the separation of Medea and Jason due to Jason’s desire to marry the king’s daughter.  The typical scenario of a woman being dispensable and discarded by the man is evidence of a tragic element.  However, Medea’s desire for revenge and the ultimate killing of the two sons appears to be the blatant element of tragedy.  It was interesting to discuss this play and listen to the difference in opinions as to which act was the truly tragic element if not both. 

            In Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun I found myself really struggling to convince myself this was a tragedy.  I found myself wanting to classify this as a romance due to a couple of elements.  One, I saw the end of the play as a transcendence by the family when they move out of the apartment and into their own home.  I also viewed Walter’s decision to stand up to George Murchison as a sign that he was becoming a new man.  However, upon reflection I learned that both of these situations were actually key elements that make this play a tragedy.  The fact that the family was moving was an insight to the troubles to come.  They were moving into an all white neighborhood and into a house that they were not going to be able to afford after Walter lost all the savings.  And Walter’s new found pride was the only evidence that he was maybe making a change.  The fact that he had not been to work in days, lost the insurance money, and was willing to extort money from Mr. Murchison is more evidence that he has a long way to go before he is half the man his father was. 

            In Eugene O’Neil’s Long Days Journey into Night I was able to discern the tragedy within the play.  I feel that there are a couple of reasons for this.  The first reason is because of the intensity of the play.  From start to finish I felt the impact of the destruction of alcoholism and drug addiction within the family.  I quickly realized that this combined with the guilt and failed expectations were the contributing factors to the tragedy of a self-destructive family.  Another reason I quickly recognized the tragedy was the experience I had gained from the other plays allowed me to not get tunnel vision.  What I mean by that is that I had a tendency to not step back and view the whole play, I would focus on one aspect and not considered anything else.  For example, in A Raisin in the Sun I focused on the idea of the family moving out as a wonderfully romantic thing, never thinking of the consequences of living in the all white neighborhood and everybody having to work, including the grandmother, to try and make ends meet. 

            I feel I can honestly say that coming into this class I was uneducated in the genres of literature.  I do believe that because of the class format with discussions and presentations that I have learned a great deal about “Tragedy” as well as increased my knowledge of other genres.  I believe that the most important thing that I learned was to not take a play a face value.  It is important to understand the authors and their motives for writing plays.  It is also important that I understand the consequences of actions within the plays and how they fit into the different genre characteristics.  This, I believe, I have accomplished. [BB]