TRAGICOMEDY OF CARLO GOLDONI

Abstract

Goldoni’s tragicomedies while being less popular and lesser studiedthan his comedies nonetheless provide us with rich material for the study of theStudia Litterarum. Vol. 1, no 3–4Mikhail L. Andreev71genre’s general properties. Goldoni’s tragicomedies fall into two groups: in his playswritten in the 1730s, the author but revises conventional repertoire tradition ofcommedia dell arte; in his plays of the 1750s, he makes an attempt to reform thegenre itself. The latter group forms three peculiar trilogies: passions, sincerities, andhypocrisies. In this part of his creative work, Goldoni remains true to the study ofthe character as the main object of dramatic representation. However, whereas incomedies, the character is the major impediment to the achievement of the plotlinegoals, in tragicomedies, it plays the opposite function: leads the dramatic collisionto the happy conclusion. The change of function marks the shift within the genericframework.

Keywords

• Carlo Goldoni
• tragicomedy
• comedy
• poetics of the genre