Here's a breakdown of the influence:
* Greek Tragedy: The most significant influence came from the works of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. These playwrights established key elements of tragedy, including:
* A central protagonist with a tragic flaw: This flaw leads to their downfall.
* The use of a chorus: A group of characters commenting on the action and representing the community's response.
* Elevated language: Formal and poetic language often used in speeches and soliloquies.
* The exploration of themes like fate, free will, and the nature of justice.
* Roman Tragedy: While less prominent than Greek influence, Roman playwrights like Seneca contributed significantly to Elizabethan tragedy. Seneca's plays emphasized:
* Strong, often violent, action: With emphasis on revenge, betrayal, and murder.
* The use of vivid imagery and rhetorical devices: Adding dramatic power to the plays.
* The exploration of themes like power, ambition, and the consequences of unchecked passions.
Elizabethan playwrights like Shakespeare, Marlowe, and Jonson took inspiration from these classical models but also developed their own unique styles. They adapted themes, characters, and structures to create plays that reflected the political and social realities of their time.