Optimistic Tragedy (Russian: Оптимистическая трагедия) is a play written by Vsevolod Vishnevskiy in the Soviet Union in 1933 with a dedication to the 15th anniversary of the Red Army.
The play is set in St. Petersburg, and Kronstadt, Russia, after the Russian Revolution and during the Russian Civil War. Some scenes are set on a ship of the Red Navy on the Baltic Sea near Saint Petersburg. The play has three acts.
Famous quotes containing the words optimistic and/or tragedy:
“A man may be a pessimistic determinist before lunch and an optimistic believer in the will’s freedom after it.”
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)
“The Taylor and the Painter often contribute to the Success of a Tragedy more than the Poet. Scenes affect ordinary Minds as much as Speeches; and our Actors are very sensible, that a well-dressed Play has sometimes brought them as full Audiences, as a well-written one.... But however the Show and Outside of the Tragedy may work upon the Vulgar, the more understanding Part of the Audience immediately see through it, and despise it.”
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719)