Many readers assume that, as literary devices, tragedy and comedy are opposites. There are significant differences between the two; however, they are not directly opposed to each other. In terms of plot, the events in a comic work do not have a sense of inevitability. Instead, the resolution of a comedy is typically festive once the characters realize their true connection with each other. Tragic plots stem from suffering and result in dark and dramatic reflections.

In terms of audience and/or reader experience, comedy evokes laughter as a shared experience and a sense of human likeness. Tragedy often evokes suffering and estrangement. However, this is not to say that the audience/reader does not identify with a tragic hero. In fact, most tragic protagonists are complex, engendering respect and compassion for their falls and defeats. Traditionally, comic protagonists are not as full-fledged, and therefore, remain at somewhat of an emotional distance from the audience/reader.