According to Aristotle, the audience should feel pity for the tragic hero and fear that the same fate could befall them.
Pity and fear
Pity and fear
According to Aristotle, the audience should feel pity for the tragic hero and fear that the same fate could befall them.
The audience should feel the protagonist suffers more than he or she deserves.
Aristotle's audience would say that an action is virtuous when it strikes a balance between extremes, as per his doctrine of the Golden Mean. They would also acknowledge the importance of ethics in achieving eudaemonia, or human flourishing.
Aristotle believed that a tragedy, as a form of art, should evoke fear and pity in the audience, leading to a purging or cleansing of these emotions. This process, known as catharsis, serves to provide a sense of emotional release and clarity, allowing the audience to experience a deeper understanding and connection with the human experience portrayed in the tragedy.
According to Aristotle, the tragic flaw, or "hamartia," is a character trait in a tragic hero that leads to their downfall. This flaw is often hubris, or excessive pride, which causes the hero to ignore warnings or make fatal mistakes. Aristotle believed that the audience should feel pity and fear for the hero as they suffer the consequences of their flaw.
anger, joy, revenge
Aristotle's statement about a clear beginning, middle, and end in a plot reflects the concept of unity of action in literature, where all elements of the story serve to advance the plot. By having a distinct structure with a cohesive storyline, the audience can better engage with the narrative and its development.
After experiencing pity and fear, Aristotle believed that playgoers would then undergo a form of emotional catharsis or purification. This process would lead to a release of these strong emotions and a sense of emotional relief or transformation in the audience.
joy
According to Aristotle, music could be made for people to feel a range of emotions, including pleasure, joy, and even catharsis through the expression of pathos. He believed that music has the power to evoke feelings that can lead to moral and emotional development. Aristotle also suggested that music could serve as a means for individuals to experience and understand their emotions more deeply, enhancing their overall well-being.