Melodrama Sem 3-Unit 1

 

MELODRAMA

Melodrama is said to be lower in form than tragedy. Originally a song is said to have a prominent place in melodrama. But now the term is said to be reversed and has become more of a sensational (public interest) type, relying on physical action, theatrical language, behavior and lacking in sentiment for its effect. In an extravagant story like crime, revenge or retribution (punishment) the characters are said to be a mere puppets because of the evils committed due to their drinking or gambling, lost will, missing heir and so forth and in the story you will find the villain doesn’t succeed and virtue to be triumphant.

                During 18^th century this kind of drama became prominent and during 19^th century it became amazingly popular with the unsophisticated plays. But we would find the elements of melodramatic in much earlier plays also. For example in famous works of Kyd’s Spanish Tragedy and Webster’s Duchess of Malfi, one will find authors determination to pile horror on horror which proves his artistry talent which enlarges his delivery skills which is used to impress people. These plays were chiefly noted for their scenic devices like representation of railway accident, shipwrecks, fires, floods, earthquakes and other calamities. It was these merely unconscious triumph that still attracted educated audiences during the days when melodrama was played every year at Drury Lane which is said to be a social event. But now they are merely attempted in theatre as cinema shows it in a more convincingly hence such plays which are said to be an essential part of the play are now barely remembered.