Moreno, Gilda

The Substance of Tragedy

The purpose of this paper is to present a brief summary of the text The Substance of
Tragedy by A.C. Bradley. In this lecture, the author analyses some characteristics of
Shakespearean tragedy.
Although the tragedies bring before us a considerable number of persons, the story is about
one person. This hero is someone of high degree and his, is a story of exceptional suffering
and calamity that not only conducts to his death but also affects those who surround him, thus
making the whole scene a scene of woe and pity, Another issue that enhances the sense of pity
is that the calamities of tragedy come from the actions of men, in fact, the author mentions the
heros fatal flaw as the principal cause of such calamities.
There are a number of elements that Shakespeare usually includes in his tragedies. One of
them is the inclusion of abnormal conditions of mind, such as somnambulism and
hallucinations, however the actions that lead to tragedy are not done in such abnormal
conditions. Insane people are not tragic characters. Another element that Shakespeare often
introduces is the supernatural in the form of witches and ghosts who have supernatural
knowledge. But this element is always placed in closest relation with the character. It gives
confirmation and distinct for to inward movements already present and exerting influence.
Lastly, Shakespeare allows an appreciable influence to chance or accident, a tragic fact, at
some point in the action. Such a fact would start a chain of events that no one would be able to
stop.
The author analyzes the notion of tragedy as a conflict the conflict that exists in the tragedy is
between two persons or two parties of which the hero is one. More than a conflict between
people, it is a conflict between passions of these parties or of the passions within one person.
This notion emphasizes the fact that action is the center of the story, while the concentration of
the interest in the inward struggle emphasizes the fact that this action is essentially the
expression of character.
Furthermore, the nature of the ultimate power is analyzed in the text. The author argues that it
is not a law or order which can be seen as just and benevolent, for in that case the spectacle of
suffering and waste could not seem as fearful and mysterious as it does. It is not fate either. It
might be a force caused by mans thoughts that are transformed into action and these in turn
become the opposite of the thoughts themselves and turn into a monstrous flood which spreads
over a kingdom. In essence, this ultimate power is a force composed by the characters deeds
and omissions of action that eventually lead to the catastrophe.
As regards justice, the author makes a difference between poetic justice and that which is
present in Shakespearean tragedy. Poetic justice is that in which the virtuous is ultimately
rewarded and the vicious punished. This is clearly not what is found in Shakespeare, where all
deeds are punished no matter if the doer was good or evil. The tragedy in his plays is that the
good part of the hero is wasted in its attempt to expel evil.