Key Theatrical Ideas

Hubris: Arrogance, excessive self-pride and self-confidence. The adjective was used to refer to the emotions in Greek tragic heroes that led them to ignore warnings from the gods and thus generate catastrophe. It is considered a form of hamartia or tragic flaw, caused by overbearing pride and lack of piety.

Hamartia: Originating in Aristotle's Poetics, it is usually a mistake or error in judgment. It has  often been described as a hero's "tragic flaw." Covers a broad spectrum that includes ignorant, mistaken, or accidental wrongdoing, as well as deliberate iniquity, error, or sin. It is a method of gnerating emotion in the audience of Greek tragedies. The hamartia, is an error in judgment or unwitting mistake by the hero. In the Bible (New Testament) it is translated "sin". “moral deficit” or a “moral error”. It can be seen in this opposing context if the main character does not act because it is a sin. This failure to act, in turn, must lead to a poor change in fortune for the main character in order for it to truly be a hamartia.

Dramatic representations

Shakespeare left very few clues regarding how he intended his texts to be interpreted. Most scenes seem straightforward, and when a new director takes on the task of piecing together a Shakespearean drama, most of the key scenes in the play are usually presented in a manner similar to the interpretations made by other directors before him or her. However, sometimes directors and actors make subtle changes to simple aspects of a scene that open a character up to new interpretations or create a nuanced subtext in the scene.

Perception and interpretation usually vary with different artists. Consider the different ways that directors and actors interpret scenes in a play. Look at the  literary text anew; see it as nuanced or having possible meanings other than those discussed in class, Recognize the many ways that different people can interpret important texts.

Inquiry task: check out the differing interpretations exemplified in Jon Finch’s and Patrick Stewart’s performances in Act 4, Scene 1, of Macbeth.