Tragedy in the Contemporary American Theatre

This book refutes the claim that tragedy is no longer a vital and relevant part of contemporary American theatre. Tragedy in the Contemporary American Theatre examines plays by multiple contemporary playwrights and compares them alongside the works of America's major twentieth-century tragedians: Eugene O'Neill, Arthur Miller, and Tennessee Williams. The book argues that tragedy is not only present in contemporary American theatre, but issues from an expectation fundamental to American culture: the pressure on characters to create themselves. Tragedy in the Contemporary American Theatre concludes that tragedy is vital and relevant, though not always in the Aristotelian model, the standard for traditional evaluation.

Robert J. Andreach is a former university professor. He is the author of several books, most recently John Guare's Theatre, Len Jenkin's Theatre, and The Contemporary American Dramatic Trilogy.

Introduction: Questioning Tragedy's Vitality and Relevance
Chapter One: Isolation and Loss of Life
Chapter Two: Loss of Hope and Suffering
Chapter Three: Eugene O'Neill
Chapter Four: Arthur Miller
Chapter Five: Tennessee Williams
Chapter Six: More Contemporary Tragedy
Conclusion: Questing for Tragedy's Vitality and Relevance
Notes
Index