Theatrical Tragedy is Peculiar, Jim...

[Suu]

I mean, take Romeo and Juliet for example...

We all know how it ends, in fact, they TELL you how it will end in the prologue, but no matter what, you always get to that part...that part when you hope that the letter gets to Romeo in time, Juliet will wake up, the families will reconcile and everyone will live happily ever after. You know of course, it doesn't happen that way, you know in the end, suicide is the answer as you read the play or watch Claire Danes blow her brains all over Leonardo diCaprio.

Why do we allow ourselves to hope for the conclusion that simply will not be? Why watch Hamlet's mother die when she drinks from the poisoned cup destined for her son who eventually takes his own life? We become entertained at the tales of other's lives falling apart.

What about Oedipus or Orpheus? Even thousands of years ago, the ancients admired and craved the tragedy of theatre. You know the endings, you know you'll be crying and left frightening unfulfilled, but...why? What lessons do we allow these tales to teach us? To not fall in love? To not feign ignorance or insanity? I don't know.

Peculiar.

[Don Coyote]

I mean, take Romeo and Juliet for example...

We all know how it ends, in fact, they TELL you how it will end in the prologue, but no matter what, you always get to that part...that part when you hope that the letter gets to Romeo in time, Juliet will wake up, the families will reconcile and everyone will live happily ever after. You know of course, it doesn't happen that way, you know in the end, suicide is the answer as you read the play or watch Claire Danes blow her brains all over Leonardo diCaprio.

Why do we allow ourselves to hope for the conclusion that simply will not be? Why watch Hamlet's mother die when she drinks from the poisoned cup destined for her son who eventually takes his own life? We become entertained at the tales of other's lives falling apart.

What about Oedipus or Orpheus? Even thousands of years ago, the ancients admired and craved the tragedy of theatre. You know the endings, you know you'll be crying and left frightening unfulfilled, but...why? What lessons do we allow these tales to teach us? To not fall in love? To not feign ignorance or insanity? I don't know.

Peculiar.

Maybe it's "Shit can always get worse"

[The Wizard]

They teach us that you don't always get a happy ending. Sometimes things end badly and no amount of hoping will change that.

[The Johnny]

In psychology we study them to dissect whats tragic about them, and how those tragic parts apply thru the different eras to humans.

Oedipus, Hamlet, Medeah... the examples are broad.

[The Johnny]

Also that "we're puppets of destiny" i guess

[Nast]

Even though in the end nothing is resolved, going through those emotions is supposed to be cathartic. Or so I learned in English class.

[Don Coyote]

Maybe it is a form of reinforcing the culturally acceptable ways to deal with intense emotions.

[Nast]

Maybe it is a form of reinforcing the culturally acceptable ways to deal with intense emotions.

Like stabbing someone's dad through a curtain?

[Don Coyote]

Maybe it is a form of reinforcing the culturally acceptable ways to deal with intense emotions.

Like stabbing someone's dad through a curtain?

Which, along with other things, caused the downfall of a kingdom and suicides all around.

So the message might be, "Don't skulk around stabbing people through curtains or you will destroy your family and kill yourself."

[Suu]

Maybe it is a form of reinforcing the culturally acceptable ways to deal with intense emotions.

Like stabbing someone's dad through a curtain?

Like your girlfriend's...because she'll go batshit and drown herself.

[The Johnny]

Oedipus: NEVER EVER help ANYONE or you will stab your eyes out with a dull knife.

OR

never be born. Because you are the cause of the kingdom's plagues.

[Don Coyote]

Oedipus: NEVER EVER help ANYONE or you will stab your eyes out with a dull knife.

OR

never be born. Because you are the cause of the kingdom's plagues.

If you grew up an orphan double check that you aren't sleeping with your long lost mother/sister.

[Phox]

When the father of your children tries to marry another woman, murder your kids.

[The Johnny]

When the father of your children tries to marry another woman, murder your kids.

Along with your father-in-law and yourself. =P

[The Johnny]

But really, tragedies arent designed to give a "moral of the story" moment.