Rules and Genre

Genre and Rules

Othello: Shakespearean tragedy (conforms to many of the Aristotelian rules of tragedy)
· Follows the life of the tragic hero Othello
· At the beginning of the play, Othello holds a highly respected position in the society as a general in the Venetian military and he is married to one of the most desirable women in the city who is the daughter of a senator
· Othello is admired as a noble and Christ-like figure who is honest and peaceful and willing to defend himself against accusations raised against him (the Senate scene)
· As Iago begins his plotting against his superiors, Othello gets caught up in a series of events that become more and more violent and criminal
· As the villain in the play, Iago plays on Othello’s weaknesses, his love for Desdemona and his fears that he could lose her and be made a fool of in front of his peers. This is Othello’s fatal flaw.
· By Act IV, Othello is transformed; he is no longer a hero, but a vengeful killer
· At the end of the play many innocent characters meet their death because of Othello’s alliance with Iago, the saddest of which is his wife Desdemona because she is so clearly a pure and faultless character. Roderigo, and Emilia are as victims.
· The play ends with the scene which emphasizes the sadness of the situation and this creates pity and catharsis in the audience


The Merchant of Venice: a problem play, a tragicomedy
· Aspects of Comedy
Ø A young couple wishes to get married
Ø They are blocked by the “casket” riddle created by Portia’s father before his death
Ø The young couple “escapes to Belmont an idealized rural setting away from the political/real world of Venice
Ø Portia uses a disguise to help her new husband’s friend, Antonio and in the process tests the love and commitment of Bassanio (the ring exchange)
Ø When Bassanio fails the test, Portia easily forgives him and the play ends happily
Ø Two young couples are married and there is sense that society is renewed and the foibles of humanity are reformed:
Ø The play has a strong moral teaching that aim to reform society: mercy is superior to justice, love is not based “external shows”

Ø Shylock, Lancelot and Gobbo are somewhat comic stereotyped or stock characters who act in exaggerated and according to rigid patterns



· Aspects of Tragedy
Ø Antonio is the title character, the merchant of Venice, who is a great man
Ø After he makes the dubious contract with Shylock, he becomes enmeshed in a series of events that seem to be leading to his death
Ø In the trial scene it appears that Antonio will die—yet there is no real justice in this



Doll’s House: a drama, a modern tragedy
· Ibsen is known as the “father of modern drama”
· In the modern time, there is no longer an understanding the universe is ruled by a kind and loving God who has a divine plan. Because of this the ending of modern plays do not have a satisfying, just ending where the hero learns the error of his actions and accepts his punishment: death
· The source of conflict in the play is caused by societal structures
· The hero is not a member of the aristocracy or ruling class, but is a member of the middle class
· The hero may not be a man
· Nora is a middle class woman
· The roles that she plays in society are pre-determined by the her gender and class
· In order to save her husband she secretly signs her fathers name to a bond and a series of events ensue that seem to entrap her
· The play ends in a very unsatisfying way when Nora decides to leave her husband. The audience feels that this somewhat just, but the issues of the play certainly not resolved…
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Pygmalion: a parody of a romance/comedy

· Eliza meets Higgins
· At the start they do not like each other
· As their relationship grows—since they spend so much time together Eliza begins to see a new side of Higgins
· Eliza goes through a “magical transformation”
· There are mistaken identities and the use of disguise
· The play ends with the ironic marriage of Mr and Mrs. Doolittle
· Eliza leaves Higgins and runs off with Freddy


The Lion and the Jewel: post-colonial/ ironic/ black comedy

· Lakunle and Baroka are in love with Sidi
· Both male characters represent types: Lakunle, the Westernized ‘progressive’ and Baroka the African traditionalist
· Both male characters are satirized: the armpit plucking
· The play deals largely with Sidi’s decision about who she should marry
· In the middle of the play, Sidi concocts a deceitful plot aimed at exposing Baroka in the he outfoxes her and she is tricked
· The plays ends tragically, yet there celebration of a marriage with dancing and singing. The tone of the ending is very ironic, typical of contemporary “black comedy”