Tragedy and Metamorphosis
Tragedy and Metamorphosis
This chapter examines the influence of Roman poet Ovid's Metamorphoses on William Shakespeare's tragedy. It suggests that Ovid's description of the Age of Iron and the language he used in his work has provided the inspiration and precedent for Shakespearean tragedy. Examples of tragedies inspired by Ovid include Titus Andronicus and Macbeth. Like Ovid's poetry, the theme of Shakespeare's tragedy is the breaking of sacred bonds, be it between host and guest or between kin.
Keywords: Metamorphoses, Ovid, Shakespearean tragedy, William Shakespeare, literary precedents, Titus Andronicus, Macbeth
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