Difference Between Comedy and Tragedy

Main Difference – Comedy vs Tragedy

Comedy and Tragedy are two genres of literature that traces their origins back to the Ancient Greece. In simple terms, the main difference between comedy and tragedy is that the comedy is a humorous story with a happy ending while a tragedy is a serious story with a sad ending. Before moving into analyzing the difference between comedy and tragedy further, let us first look at these genres separately.

What is a Comedy

A comedy can be simply defined as a story with a happy ending that makes the audience laugh. A comedy is a story that illustrates idiosyncrasies of ordinary people, has a happy ending where protagonist achieves his goal at the end. A successful comedy not only has the ability to make the audience happy and amused but can also make the audience understand serious social or individual problems. A Comedy can be categorized into various genres like Farce, Burlesques, Satire, Domestic Comedy, Comedy of Manners, Comedy of errors, etc. Some examples of famous comedies include Shakespeare’s: “As you like it”, “Much ado about nothing”, “A midsummer night’s dream” Moliere’s “The Imaginary Invalid”, “The Miser”

Comedy vs Tragedy

A scene in Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor”

What is a Tragedy

In simple terms, a tragedy is a story with a sad and depressing ending. A tragedy always deals with an extraordinary person who is led to downfall through his own weakness. A successful tragedy has the ability to evoke pity and fear in the audience. In a tragedy, the protagonist’s (who is noble and powerful) life goes from good to bad. Some famous tragedies include Hamlet (Shakespeare), Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare), The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus (Christopher Marlow) and Le Cid (Corneille)

Tragedy can be further categorized into genres such as revenge tragedy, domestic tragedy, Bourgeois tragedy, Shakespearean tragedy, etc.

  • However, it should be noted another genre of  plays that contain both tragic and comic elements. This is called a tragicomedy.
    Difference Between Comedy and Tragedy

    King Lear: Cordelia’s Farewell

Difference Between Comedy and Tragedy

Characters

Comedy: Characters tend to be ordinary, common: people we meet in everyday life.

Tragedy: Characters tend to be royals, superhuman, semi-divine etc.

Protagonist

Comedy: Protagonist is an ordinary person, but shows a willingness to learn and change.

Tragedy: Protagonist is a member of royalty, a nobleman or a divine being and shows reluctance to change.

Hero

Comedy: Protagonist of a comedy is called a comic hero.

Tragedy: Protagonist of a tragedy is called a tragic hero.

Tone

Comedy: Comedy has a light, happy tone.

Tragedy: Tragedy has a solemn and ominous tone.

Purpose

Comedy: Comedy emphasizes human shortcomings which cause suffering.

Tragedy: Tragedy emphasizes on human idiosyncrasies and make suggestions for improvements.

Conflict

Comedy: Conflict in a comedy is often not serious.

Tragedy: Conflict in a tragedy is often very serious.

Language

Comedy: Comedy uses ambiguous language, resulting in humor.

Tragedy: Tragedy uses more concrete language.

View

Comedy: Comedy takes the view that life is ridiculous and people behave in a humorous way.

Tragedy: Tragedy takes the view that life is a misfortune because it is filled with pain and suffering and always inevitably ends in death, loss etc.

Ending

Comedy: Comedy has a happy, amusing, light ending.

Tragedy: Tragedy has a mournful ending.

Image Courtesy:
“Johann Heinrich Füssli 039” by Henry Fuseli – The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei. DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202. Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.(Public Domain) via Commons
“Edwin Austin Abbey King Lear, Act I, Scene I The Metropolitan Museum of Art” by Edwin Austin Abbey – Metropolitan Museum of Art. (Public Domain) via Commons 

About the Author: Hasa

Hasanthi is a seasoned content writer and editor with over 8 years of experience. Armed with a BA degree in English and a knack for digital marketing, she explores her passions for literature, history, culture, and food through her engaging and informative writing.