Functions Of Shakespeare's Minor Characters

No systematic study has yet been found on the functions of Shakespeare's minor characters in his great tragedies. As a constitutional part of Shakespeare's great tragedies, these minor characters indeed have their functions. This paper attempts to make a rather detailed analysis of minor characters in Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth and King Lear and points out their functions to Shakespeare's plays and Shakespeare himself.We are going to discuss these minor characters' functions to Shakespeare's plot, theme and characterization based on a detailed analysis of those minor characters in these four tragedies. First, they set the background. Second, minor characters start the plays. Usually Shakespeare's tragedy begins without its hero appearing, but with heroes being discussed. In the four great tragedies minor characters happen to draw up the curtain. Third, minor characters help advance the plot. Though in a tragedy the central action is around those protagonists, they sometimes can control neither their fate nor the play's advancement Some incidents and small characters lead to their miserable sufferings and tragic endings.Minor characters are used to adjust certain effects at certain moments in the play. Shakespeare is a real genius at establishing dramatic effects in his plays. Minor characters in his plays have very important functions in building these effects. Usually they are used to intensify or ease the effects already established.Another function of minor characters is with the theme. Of course Shakespeare disclosed his themes through his protagonists. However, his tragic protagonists seem...