Shakespeare’s Plays: History, Roman, and Tragedies
Shakespeare’s Plays
History Plays
In his early phase, Shakespeare demonstrated a keen interest in historical processes. The chronicle play was a well-established and popular genre during this period. The question of English national destiny was significant, especially since Queen Elizabeth had no heir.
The history plays express a longing for a stable and prosperous nation, living peacefully and strong against foreign interference. However, this ideal state is never fully realized. Shakespeare is deeply suspicious of power and the human ambition for it.
Many of Shakespeare’s plays are history plays, often titled with the name of an English king, such as Henry IV, V, VI, etc. These plays explore the essence of kingship.
Shakespeare examines each king as a human being first, portraying them as strong or weak, clever or not, good or bad. Some of these history plays transcend mere historical accounts and evolve into tragedies, a prime example being Hamlet.
Roman Plays
Similarly, Shakespeare depicts the classical history of Ancient Rome in his Roman plays, blending historical elements with tragic themes. Like the history plays, they were written at various points in his career. The political questions explored in both the history and Roman plays often reflect the political climate in England during Shakespeare’s time.
It’s important to remember that the English Renaissance was rooted in Roman values and myths. The English perceived Rome as the pinnacle of global achievement in art and empire, a civilization worthy of imitation. However, Shakespeare’s fundamental skepticism never fully embraced this view.
His Romans are portrayed as greedy, superficial, and self-seeking.
The Roman plays include Titus Andronicus, Julius Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra, and Coriolanus.
Tragedies
Most of Shakespeare’s great tragedies were written between 1598 and 1607, a period sometimes referred to as his “black period.” While details about Shakespeare’s personal life are scarce, it is known that he had a son named Hamlet who died around the age of 10 or 11 in 1596. This event may have influenced Shakespeare’s “black period,” as many of his plays during this time revolve around fathers and children.
Romeo and Juliet, the most famous love tragedy in English literature, is less complex and philosophical than many of his later tragedies.
As previously mentioned, some history and Roman plays also fall into the tragedy category.
Romeo and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, and Othello can all be considered love tragedies. These differ from other tragedies in that the lovers are not doomed by their own flaws but by external barriers. In these tragedies, death becomes a kind of culmination of love, as love cannot thrive in a tragic world.
The great tragedies include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. They explore themes of revenge (Hamlet), jealousy (Othello), family problems (King Lear), and ambition (Macbeth), while also touching on numerous other subjects.
A common thread is mankind’s constant striving to transcend its limits in pursuit of perfection and harmony, but human imperfection inevitably leads to failure.
Many tragedies conclude with pessimism, where life seems meaningless. However, there is often a glimmer of hope for the future, such as a new king in Hamlet and Macbeth.
Among all the tragedies, King Lear stands out as the most pessimistic, offering little hope for the future at the play’s end.