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The Gods Within: Checkhov, Lorca, And The Internalization Of Tragic Fate, Gabriela A. Nirenburg

Honors Papers

This paper will attempt to prove the continuation of fate into modern tragic theater, using the plays of Chekhov (a Naturalist) and Lorca (a post-Romantic) as representative examples. After setting up these authors in their proper cultural contexts, I will examine their works against well-established definitions of tragedy, both classical and modern. I will then closely analyze the internal workings of the tragic heroes of these plays, ultimately demonstrating how they have managed to create and fulfill their destinies, even in the absence of gods.