Dramatists

What is the history of drama?

The word 'drama' derives from Old Greek, and it means 'to do' or 'to act'.

The origins of Western drama can be traced back to Classical Greece, particularly to the city-state of Athens, around the 6th century BC. At the City Dionysia (the festival that celebrated the god Dionysus) people would wear masks, dance, and sing a hymn called dithyrambs to honour the Greek god.

Later, drama developed into the more complex form of logical narratives - stories that were presented on stage. These are what we call plays or dramas. Some of the first known dramatists are Aeschylus (c. 525-456 BC), Sophocles (c. 495-406 BC), and Euripides (c. 480-406 BC).

The earliest surviving text on drama theory, Aristotle's Poetics (c. 335 BC), was also written in Ancient Greece. It established many Western notions of the two main genres of drama - tragedy and comedy.

Over many centuries, drama and playwriting in Europe developed with the changing historical and cultural landscapes. Let's take a look at the history of the play within the context of the different literary movements in history, paying special attention to the history of English drama.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

When talking about dramatists, we have to start with a name that is recognised by the whole world: William Shakespeare.

Shakespeare, also known as England's National Poet, the Bard of Avon, or simply the Bard, is regarded by many as the greatest writer, poet and dramatist in the English language. He left us 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems and more than 30 plays (ever heard of Macbeth?) His plays have been translated into at least 100 languages and are still often performed in theatres around the world.

William Shakespeare is one of the most famous dramatists

Biography

William Shakespeare was born on April 26th 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon in England. His father was a local businessman, and his mother was the daughter of a landowner. When he was 18, Shakespeare married his cousin Anne Hathaway who was eight years older. They had three children: Susanna, Hamnet and Judith. After he was married, Shakespeare spent most of his time in London, writing and performing his plays. Between 1585 and 1592, he was the part-owner of a theatre company called Lord Chamberlain's Men, which later changed its name to The King's Men. On April 23rd 1616, at the age of 52, William Shakespeare died in his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Famous plays

Here are some of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies and comedies:

Shakespearean tragedies

'To be, or not to be?' - You might already be familiar with this quote from Shakespeare's well-known tragedy Hamlet (1599-1601).

Shakespearean tragedies are classics for a reason. The stories that they tell introduce tragic heroes, unforgettable villains, and breathtaking twists and turns.

To capture the audience's attention when translating the drama text on stage, Shakespeare uses dramatic techniques, such as powerful monologues and soliloquies.

Some of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies are:

• Romeo and Juliet (1597)
• Hamlet (1599-1601)
• Othello (1603)
• King Lear (1606)
• Macbeth (1605-6)

Shakespearean comedies

Shakespeare is just as good at writing comedy as he is at writing tragedy. As well as staging murder and mayhem, his plays are often full of funny characters and situations.

Shakespearean comedies are characterised by dramatic irony and funny asides.

Some of Shakespeare's most famous comedies are:

• The Taming of the Shrew (1590-1592)

• Much Ado About Nothing (1598-9)

• Twelfth Night (1601-02)

• A Midsummer Night's Dream (1605)

• The Tempest (1611)

What are some other famous Dramatists in English Literature?

Let's take a look at some other well-known dramatists that you will encounter in your studies.

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Oscar Wilde was an Irish playwright, novelist, and poet. He is known as one of the founders of the late 19th century Aesthetic movement, and his most famous novel is The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890).

Wilde's most famous play is the comedy The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) which uses satire and other comedic elements to debate and laugh upon the norms and morals of Victorian society.

Other plays by Oscar Wilde include:

• Lady Windermere's Fan (1892)
• A Woman of No Importance (1893)
• An Ideal Husband (1895).

Samuel Beckett (1906-1989)

Samuel Beckett was an Irish dramatist, theatre director and poet. His works were a part of the Modernist movement, and he is most famous for being a key figure in the Theater of the Absurd.

Samuel Beckett is well-known for his black absurdist comedies Waiting for Godot (1953) and Endgame (1957).

The theater of the absurd creates a specific atmosphere to question the purpose of existence, which we see in Beckett's incorporation of dramatic techniques, such as symbolism (the objects and characters in his play are symbolic rather than realistic) and minimalism.

Arthur Miller (1915-2005)

Arthur Miller was an American playwright and screenwriter. He wrote his works during the Modernist and Postmodernist movements.

The most famous plays Arthur Miller wrote are All my sons (1947), Death of a Salesman (1949) and The Crucible (1953).

In his works, he explores the complex relationship that each individual person has with the rest of society, particularly the American society's idealisation of the 'American Dream'.

To enhance the dramatic effect of his tragedies and to present both the internal and external worlds of his characters, Arthur Miller uses a combination of realism and expressionism.

Tennessee Williams (1911-1983)

Tennessee Williams, whose real name was Thomas Lanier Williams III, was an American dramatist and screenwriter. He wrote his dramas during the Modernist movement. Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller and their other contemporary playwright, Eugene O'Neill, are considered to be the three most prominent 20th-century American dramatists.

The most famous plays that Tennessee Williams wrote areThe Glass Menagerie (1944), A Streetcar Named Desire (1947) and Cat on a Hot Thin Roof (1955).