A Tale of Two Classics

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…it was the season of Darkness…winter of despair…” To me, this reads like the opening of an ancient Greek tragedy. Perhaps Dickens was a fan of classical literature?

Throughout the history of Western society, Greek tragedies have inspired many writers, artists and composers. In classical music, the devastating storylines have formed the basis of ballets, symphonic works, and of course, operas. These tragedies may provide captivating tales but the extreme acts of the characters often seem unrealistic. So then, what is it about these narratives that make them compelling?

In the mid-18th to early 19th centuries, the use of ancient tragedies for Classical operas was at its peak. The surge of popularity came about as Europeans at that time sought to emulate the ideals of antiquity in literature, architecture, music and other arts. Interestingly, it was the noble, self-sacrificing heroines that seemed to be particularly popular, bringing out themes of gender inequality and moral failure. This would suggest that the allure of these tragedies was in its advocacy of women’s rights and ethical ideals. But was this really it?

From what I see, the Classical operas actually tried to avoid these themes altogether. The librettists would often soften the severity of the inequality by bringing out the supremacy and virtues of the male characters. They would dilute the harsh punishment of the moral law by switching tragic endings for happier ones. Lessons in morality didn’t seem to be the selling points.

Perhaps what has engaged audiences for centuries isn't the message of the story, but the intense and unfiltered emotions of the protagonists. As the tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of powerful and emotional music, we are completely drawn into the woes of the characters. The tragedies articulate the love, anger, hope, and despair that we experience in our own world and by experiencing them through our tragic heroines, it allows us a certain release, or in Aristotle's words, a catharsis.