Analysing Action in Two Romantic Tragedies Using Greïmas’ Modèle Actanciel

Abstract

Previous studies on romanticism and comparative romanticism did not consider experimenting the action with Greïmas’ model for Romantic plays, specifically in the tragedies of Hugo’s Hernani and Goethe’s Faust. This paper interprets the significance of romantic periods as presented in both plays through analysis of the action based on the dichotomy between the classics and the romantics. Unlike previous applications of Greïmas’ theory of Modèle actanciel, which were based on one perspective of action analysis, this study applies the theory in three different dimensions to examine the conflict between the classics and the romantics. It hypothesises that men grow classical in marriage while women often desire to retain their degree of romanticism in courtship. It concludes that night, dream, and imagination constitute romantic periods. The study recommends that men should maintain the romantic tempo of courtship in matrimony to minimise conflicts and reduce the rate of divorce.