STUDY OF VARIANTS IN THE ELIZABETHAN DRAMA

Abstract

Although the instinct for histrionicism is universal, it had its origin in the classical heritage-in church liturgy of the antiquity. The dramatic writings, both comedy and tragedy originated from the religious ceremonies of Greece and was later passed on to Rome. Tragedy was born out of a religious observance as regards the service of the gods thereby uniting the temporal with the transcendental. Nietzsche grants a role to Apollo, the god of poise and harmony in the Greek tragedy but the role was subordinated to that of Dionysus, the God of music and intoxication and in which the satyr, the goat-man was integrated with the darker self and primordial unity of Nature. Such a remarkable performance could, at once, entertain and awe the audience. The comic writing was started by Aristophanes in Athens. These comedies used to depict the common errors and social manners with an implied motive to reform them.