Shakespearean tragedies
William Shakespeare's tragedies include much of his best-known work, like Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.
The Shakespearean tragedies share some common traits. Most involve a tragic hero, i.e. one who is undone by a single flaw. Othello is led to murder by his jealousy; Hamlet wrestles with his emotions and will for revenge, and so delays action, with disastrous results. Even Macbeth is initially a heroic figure, although his hunger for power turns him into a villain early in the play.
The hero is usually of high social standing; for example, Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark, and Julius Caesar is the Roman Emperor. They are thus often set in noble environments, but the action is often harsh, with many people dying; in Titus Andronicus, a total of 13 characters die.
List of tragedies by William Shakespeare:
