Dryden's essay on dramatic poesy

 Dryden’s Essay on Dramatic Poesy

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 John Dryden 

 (9 August 1631 – 1 May 1700) 

Introduction: 

Dryden was a prominent English poet, critic, translator, and playwright who dominated the literary life of the Restoration Age; Therefore, the age is known as the Age of Dryden. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers of the 17th century. He was considered ‘The father of English criticism.’ Dryden lived through a turbulent period in English history, including the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration. His works often reflect the political and social issues of his time.

He was a critic of contemporary reality. In an essay presented in dialogue forms in An Essay on Dramatic Poesy. In An Essay on Dramatic Poesy there are four speakers. Each one argues strongly as to which one is better, “Ancient or Modern, and French or English.In An Essay of Dramatic Poesy, Dryden discusses the merits of various dramatic forms and genres. He defends the use of rhyme in English drama and argues for a more flexible approach to the classical unities of time, place, and action.

#Discuss any differences you observe between Aristotle's definition of Tragedy and Dryden's definition of Play.

Aristotle’s definition of tragedy and Dryden's definition of play represent the two perspectives of dramatic literature.

According to Aristotle, a tragedy typically involves a protagonist (the tragic hero) who experiences a reversal of fortune, often due to a tragic flaw (hamartia). This reversal leads to the hero's downfall, which evokes feelings of pity and fear in the audience.

Aristotle emphasized the importance of unity of action, time, and place in a tragedy, as well as the concept of "catharsis"  or emotional purification. He believed that tragedy should evoke feelings of pity and fear in the audience, which would then lead to a cathartic experience, purging these emotions and providing emotional clarity and relief.

He also discussed in his work “Poetics”.

According to John Dryden, he believes in primary purpose of the play is entertain and engaged  to audience. His definition ended with the word ‘delight and instruction of mankind’ which means The idea is that the enjoyment of a well-crafted story or poem should go hand in hand with its ability to teach and enlighten the audience.

In summary,  Aristotle Focused on the structural and formal elements of tragedy, with an emphasis on achieving catharsis through the evocation of pity and fear and dryden focused on flexibility in form and content, including the use of rhyme and the violation of classical unities.

#Evaluate whether the arguments presented in favor of French plays and against English plays are appropriate. (For example, consider the portrayal of death, duel fights with blunted swords, the representation of large armies by a few actors, the mingling of mirth and serious tones, and the use of multiple plots.)

During Dryden's time, there was a heated debate regarding the merits of French and English drama. Several arguments were made in favor of French plays and against English ones. Let's examine some of these arguments:

*1. Portrayal of Death: 

  One argument was that death should not be portrayed on stage as it neither presents a "just" nor "likely" image. This reflects the French classical unities, which emphasized a strict adherence to properties and the avoidance of shocking or unrealistic scenes. English drama, in contrast, often embraced the sensational and tragic.

*2. Duel Fights with Blunted Swords:

French play: Use stylized, less violent duels with blunted swords to avoid real danger and maintain decorum. In English play:  Have more energetic and realistic fight scenes, even though safety measures were used.

*3 Representation of Large Armies by a Few Actors:

French Plays: Use fewer actors to represent large armies, focusing more on dialogue. And  In English Plays: Use creative staging to suggest large armies with just a few actors.

 

*4. Mingling of Mirth and Serious Tones:

The mingling of mirth and serious tones in English plays can enhance the depth and appeal of the drama by providing contrast and balance. French classical drama’s separation might be seen as restrictive but consistent with classical ideals.

*5. Use of Multiple Plots:

 English drama allows for a more complex and engaging storytelling experience. French plays’ focus on a single plot might be seen as limiting but aligns with classical principles of unity.

In summary, These arguments were appropriate within their respective cultural and theatrical contexts. French drama was rooted in neoclassical principles that sought order, decorum, and moral instruction, while English drama often celebrated the richness of human experience, embracing diversity and complexity.

References :

vallath, Kalyani. A Contemporary Encyclopedia of British Literature Volume 1.

 Bodhi Tree Books and Publications, 2015. 1 vols.

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