The term “tragicomedy” is used to refer to things that incorporate multiple elements of tone and structure. But what is tragicomedy? We’re going to answer that question by outlining a tragicomedy definition, as well as a history of the term and some examples. By the end, you’ll know what tragicomedy is, and how it came to popularity.
Breaking Down Tragicomedy
First, let’s define tragedy and comedy
Before we answer the question “what is tragicomedy?” let’s first break down its constituent elements.
What is a tragedy? A tragedy is “a form of drama that depicts the downfall or destruction of a noble or heroic character. This downfall often results from a personal flaw, a twist of fate, or a combination of both. The narrative usually involves intense emotions and leads to a cathartic release for the audience.”
What is a comedy? A comedy is “any work that is intended to incite laughter and amusement, especially in theatre, television, film, stand-up comedy or any other entertainment medium. It dates back to the Ancient Greeks, originating from the comedy literary definition which refers to a medieval story or narrative involving an amusing character that triumphs over poor circumstances, creating comic effects.”
Perhaps the greatest differentiator between tragedy and comedy is hamartia: or the tragic flaw. For more on hamartia, check out our video below!
What is a Tragicomedy? • Subscribe on YouTube
Tragedies and comedies are also differentiated by mood and tone. At different points in history, tragedies and comedies have been explicitly marketed as such. Nowadays, many stories contain elements of tragedy and comedy. So, without further ado, let’s define tragicomedy.
TRAGICOMEDY DEFINITION
What is a tragicomedy?
A tragicomedy is a story that combines elements of “tragedy” and “comedy.” The term tragicomedy – tragicomoedia – was coined by the Roman playwright Plautus.
Notable Tragicomedy Examples:
- Amphitryon by Plautus
- Il Pastor Fido by Giovanni Battista Guarini
- The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
Tragicomedy Meaning Over Time
What is the history of tragicomedy?
Tragicomedy can be traced back to Ancient Greece, especially in Aristotle’s Poetics. However, it wasn’t until a century after Aristotle’s text that the term was formally defined; and not in Greece, but rather Rome. The Roman playwright Plautus coined the term in the prologue to his play Amphitryon, saying:
Quote
“I will make it a mixture: let it be a tragicomedy. I don't think it would be appropriate to make it consistently a comedy, when there are kings and gods in it. What do you think? Since a slave also has a part in the play, I'll make it a tragicomedy.” – Plautus
The combination of tragedy and comedy continued in plays and literature during the Middle Ages – but it wasn’t until the Renaissance that tragicomedies were popularized again. Many of the world’s most famous tragicomedies can be found in the oeuvres of Giovanni Battista Guarini and William Shakespeare (but it is worth noting that elements of tragicomedy can be found in stories around the world throughout history).
Check out the video below to learn more about Shakespeare’s tragicomedies.
What is Tragicomedy? • Bard101x: Defining Shakespeare’s Tragicomedy
Pericles, Cymbeline, The Tempest, and The Winter’s Tale are considered to be Shakespeare’s four tragicomedies (late romances). However, literary critics debate whether or not some of his earlier “romances” – such as Romeo and Juliet – might qualify as tragicomedies as well.
Nowadays, tragicomedy seems to pervade prestige television; evidenced in award-winning shows such as The Sopranos, Succession, and Bojack Horseman.
What is Tragicomedy Used For?
What are some tragicomedy examples?
There are a lot of great tragicomedy examples in film – but I can think of none better than Roberto Benigni’s Life is Beautiful. In the film, Guido (Benigni) uses humor to shield the horrors of the holocaust from his son Giosuè (Giorgio Cantarini). In the scene below, Guido “translates” the tragedy into comedy.
What is Tragicomedy? • Clip from Life is Beautiful
This deft blend of comedy and tragedy proved to resonate with critics; earning the film the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and Benigni the Academy Award for Best Lead Actor.
Elsewhere, we see tragedy used t0 darken the mood of comedy; the HBO show Barry does a great job of this. In the show, Barry Berkman (Bill Hader) pursues an LA acting career while moonlighting as a hitman.
What is Tragicomedy? • Barry Trailer
The mood of Barry oscillates from tragedy to comedy on a dime. The series goes to some seriously dark places – yet each season was nominated for The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Some of the best tragicomedy elements can be found in sitcoms, such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In the scene below, Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) plots a revenge killing; you can hear the mood shift from comedy to tragedy as the audience laughter dies.
What is Tragicomedy? • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Clip
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air isn’t the only ‘90s sitcom to include elements of tragicomedy; Saved by the Bell and Boy Meets World do as well. Tragicomedy has a perplexing tone and mood for the audience; and writers can use the form to play with and subvert their expectations.
Up Next
What is Blue Comedy?
We covered some of the elements 0f comedy – but there’s a lot more to the genre than what we went over in our examination of tragicomedy. Want to learn more about comedy? Check out our next article on blue comedy, where we break down examples from George Carlin, Dave Chapelle, and more. By the end, you’ll know what blue comedy is and why it’s so controversial.
Up Next: Blue Comedy Definition, Examples, and Impact →
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