Albee, Edward: 1928 - 2016
The Goat or Who is Sylvia?, 2002 - Tragedy
- Albee redefines tragedy for a contemporary audience by substituting ancient taboos (incest, patricide) with modern ones (bestiality). Modern Tragedy raises questions about whether tragedy can still exist in a secular, postmodern world—where gods, fate, and divine punishment are absent, but social taboos still have destructive power.
- Gemeral Information of Tragedy
- Tragedy defined. "What's most interesting is that Albee has managed to do exactly what he intended: Write a tragedy." Barry Pineo; January 19, 2007
- Edward Albee renews the structure of Aristotelian tragedy. "Albee has seamlessly followed Aristotle’s beliefs of the trajectory of a tragic plot." literatured.com
- Greek Tragedy and Edward Albee’s “Tragi—” Comedy: "Less appreciated is the extent to which Albee uses the play to raise questions about tragedy and the tragic, as he himself invites in the play’s published subtitle: Notes toward a definition of tragedy." College of Wooster, Thomas Falkner; April 15 2004
- Classical Tragedy vs. Albee’s Modern Tragedy (The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?)
Classical Tragedy (Greek/Aristotelian) Albee’s Modern Tragedy (The Goat) Hero is noble or larger-than-life (kings, warriors, figures of myth). Hero is ordinary, modern, professional man (Martin the architect). Fall caused by hubris or fate; linked to divine or cosmic order. Fall caused by private desire colliding with social taboos; no divine framework. Catharsis through pity and fear. Catharsis through shock, discomfort, and laughter turning to horror. Anagnorisis (recognition) occurs within the hero. Recognition occurs mostly in the audience; Martin never fully understands. Tragedy framed in relation to gods, destiny, polis. Tragedy framed in relation to family, intimacy, and societal boundaries. Communal ritual in the amphitheater (polis reflects on its values). Controversy, walkouts, debates—audiences reflect on tolerance and morality in modern society. Endings are inevitable, solemn, often fated. Ending is shocking and violent (Stevie kills Sylvia), leaving ambiguity and unsettled questions.