Dear tragedizers,
I've been asked whether it's acceptable to choose a protagonist who has already been the subject of a non-tragic artistic treatment.
The assignment guidelines specify:
When identifying a ‘famous figure’, please choose an individual and events that haven’t already been dramatized into a play, film, novel, etc, and that haven’t been discussed in class. This will ensure that you don’t run the risk of plagiarising an existing plot structure.
The important issue is to devise a tragic plot yourself, without reproducing pre-existing material. If you've identified a potential protagonist who is the subject of, say, a satirical comedy - or who plays a subsidiary role in someone else's biopic - that's acceptable, because the figure hasn't played a substantial role in terms that could be considered tragic. In a situation like this, I'd recommend inserting a brief reference to existing artistic treatments when you explain your choice of protagonist, noting how and why your plot will be different.
I hope things brings clarification and reassurance. Please don't hesitate to contact me for guidance if you'd like to check the appropriateness of your selected figure.
Best wishes,
Adrian
