Ultimatum - Shakespearean Tragedy Versus Matchpoint

863 Words4 Pages
A match point in tennis and other sports is a point that, if won by one the contestant will also win the match. The movie “Match Point” directed by Woody Allen is first introduced by the let ball that teeters over the edge of both courts after it scrapes the net. There is a point of anxiousness in any net sport where the game peripheral collides with the net, and is the initial scene represents the ultimatum that is presented at each let play; you either win or you lose. The match point is the balance in the stage of completion, the point where one can either finish their goals or drop back into their struggle. The movie Matchpoint is a symbolic representation of a Shakespearean tragedy based on realistic drama that emphasizes how a guilty temptation can easily ruin a person’s life with such a simple immoral choice, resulting in a life of regret. With a tennis ball on a let play, a change in the angle of velocity drastically changes the final result which sometimes determines a life-altering event. A small change or action done by a person can result in a completely different outcome from what has been expected. Director Allen highlights the need to review even the simplest decisions in life, as they have more potential to change than one expects. Hamartia, or tragic flaw is an essential theme of Shakespearean tragedy as it can provide contrast to a previously successful life by contributing to a drastic change of events. Chris Wilton begins a jubilant life with a high paying, success job as well as his spouse Chloe that adores him dearly. However he wants more, sometime that his wife cannot provide, but Nola Rice can. The seventh rule in the Ten Commandments in Christianity states “Thou shall not commit adultery.” The act of adultery is given a poor and immoral outlook by society, as it is believed that marriage binds two indefinitely. However it is
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