Om dit treurspel werkzaam en aangenaam in de oogen der aanschouweren te maaken.

Abstract

This article describes the features and the function of the secondary plots in three Dutch tragedies, dating from the early eighteenth century: Lukas Rotgans' Scilla (1709), Lukas Schermer's Meleager en Atalante (1710) and Balthasar Huydecoper's Arzases (1722). It is shown that especially the poetical theories of French classicist writers (particularly d'Aubignac's La pratique du théâtre) have been influential. The secondary plots in these tragedies are studied under a threefold perspective. The first question to be answered is wether or not the secondary plots of Rotgans, Schermer and Huydecoper can be considered as vraisemblable, wether or not they are in accordance with the prescripts of probability. In the second place the intended emotional effect of the secondary plots upon the audience is regarded. Finally the interaction between main plot and secondary plot in Scilla, Meleager en Atalante and Arzases is being described.