Understanding the Inevitability of Shakespearean Tragedies

Shakespeare's plays reveal a clear pattern where the genre itself hints at the outcome, such as all characters getting married in comedies or the hero facing demise in tragedies. Despite this predictability, Shakespeare skillfully portrays the inner turmoil of the characters while conveying the inevitable nature of the plot. This duality mirrors the philosophical concept of determinism prevalent during that time due to the Reformation, particularly in Calvinist Protestantism, where the idea of a predestined fate is emphasized. The plays reflect the notion of characters following a predetermined path, echoing the philosophical and theological context of the era.