Drama »Melodrama » Definition and Examples of Melodrama

Melodrama

Definition of Melodrama

Melodrama is a subgenre of drama, which is an exaggerated form of thisgenre. Melodramas deal with sensational and romantic topics that appeal to the emotions of the common audience. Originally, it makes use of melody and music, while modern melodramas may not contain any music. In fact, a melodrama gives preference to a detailed characterization where characters are simply drawn, one-dimensional or stereotyped. Typically, it uses stock characters including a heroes, heroines and villains.

Melodrama Example from Literature

Example 1 Noel Coward’s heartbreaking drama, Still Life, Brief Encounter, tells the story of two people seemed destined to stay unhappy. In the film, a leading role and married woman Laura Jesson encounters Alec Harvey, a doctor in train station, and both decides to meet once in a week at the same station. Sooner they begin to feel delighted in each other’s company and share everything. Eventually they come to realize that they are in love with each other. Their realization, however, leads to a tragic notion that they cannot leave their family, which finally ends up in unrequited love with their lives doomed into despondency..

Function of Melodrama

Melodrama is an exaggerated form of drama, where authors enhance the storylines in order to tug the heartstrings of the audience. Typically, these types of dramas focus on sensational plots that revolve around tragedy, unrequited love, loss, heightened emotion, featuring long-suffering protagonists, especially females attempting in vain to overcome impossible odd. Its purpose is to play on the feelings and emotions of the audience. We see the use of melodramatic plots more often in films, theaters, T.V, radio, cartoons and comics. Drama » comedy » Definition and Examples of comedy