FROM SENECAN SCELUS TO HUMANIST PSYCHE: SHAKESPEARE'S DEVIATION FROM CLASSICAL DRAMA

Abstract

This paper examines the Shakespeare’s involvement in the fundamental elements of classical tragic drama and how his plays have influence of humanism of Renaissance age. Though his plays are based on the traditional Senecan tragic elements especially the element of scelus which denotes crime and evil behavior, but his uniqueness is seen in the way he deviates from the structure of classical tragedies. This paper analyzes the concepts of tragic hero, supernatural elements, humanism, treatment of fate, cosmic web in the plays of Shakespeare with the special references of Hamlet, Kind Lear, Juluis Ceaser, Othello and Macbeth.

The study reveals four critical elements of transformation that define the Shakesperean tragedy.  Firstly, the transformation of nature of protagonist, from the mystical nature of hero that is driven by the fate to the humanistic nature of protagonist whose life is driven by the psychological and internal traumas. Secondly, the downfall of characters especially hero’s downfall is characterized by the combination of their moral choices and the external conditions. Thirdly, the presentation of supernatural elements in the drama are the projections of instable mental state of person and accumulated traumas and guilts of the characters. Lastly, the Shakesperean tragedies deviate from the victory of evil in Senecan plays to the eventual downfall of evil and hence presentation of morality in his plays