Claire Barnes
‘Tragedy emerges from the clash between individual hopes and the demands and society’.
Compare and contrast your two chosen texts in the light of this comment. (50marks)
Throughout the ages tragedy has been given different definitions by society. A Greek tragedy translates as ‘goat song’. A Greek tragedy was a drama that affirmed the meaning of life and community. A Roman tragedy was the ability to meet harsh conditions in a state of calm, passive acceptance. The tragedy would teach citizens to face situations socially. A renaissance tragedy was the consequences of transgression in a world governed by divine justice. A tragedy was typified by the suffering of someone who had transgressed. Whereas Jacobean tragedies were domestically based, concerned with household events, however characters were often great significant people. However only recently events have become concerned with ordinary people, this is known as a modern tragedy. Ancients needed tragedy to establish a sense of stable community. Modern people see themselves as victims of their society, which is often understandable due to society’s restraints and demands.
Catherine of ‘Wuthering Heights’ (W.H) is a passionate strong willed character who is the daughter of Mr Earnshaw. Hindley the son of Mr Earnshaw is exceptionally hateful towards Heathcliff and Catherine after their father’s death. Nelly tells of the day Heathcliff and Catherine rebel and escape across the moors to be together. However Catherine injures her ankle and stays with the Lintons at Thrushcross Grange. Heathcliff is refused admittance. When Catherine returns she is even more cultured than Heathcliff and despite his best efforts to fit in he becomes sidelined. Due to Catherine’s insight of wealth and status she longs to be the “…greatest woman of the neighbourhood…” This is within her reach if she advances herself socially. As a result she marries Edgar Linton who offers her wealth and social status. Despite her passionate love for Heathcliff, “my love for Heathcliff resembles the rocks beneath” to marry him would “degrade” her. The demands of society led to the tragedy and unhappiness of Heathcliff and Catherine’s relationship, “you have killed me”. Due to Catherine feeling the pressures from society she represses her feelings for Heathcliff and dies and unhappy woman.
