Aristotle's Poetics

 Literary Criticism

Poetics by Aristotle

Aristotle's theory of tragedy is governed by a preoccupation with audience response. Discuss.

Aristotle is the fountain-head of literary criticism. In his praiseworthy literary assessment Poetics, he is preoccupied with different literary genres especially Tragedy and we find that even tragedy is governed by a preoccupation with audience response. Actually, Aristotle strictly connects to the functions of tragedy while defining tragedy and its different constitutional parts. He times and again says that the purpose of tragedy is to teach with the providence of aesthetic pleasure. This purpose is obtained through the accomplishment of catharsis particularly. Aristotle defines tragedy in these words, 

Tragedy is an imitation of an action which is serious and complete; having certain magnitude; embellished with different accessories; in a dramatic not narrative form affecting the emotions of pity and fear resultantly having the Catharsis of these emotions.

The first part of tragedy deals technically with plot, characters and outer beautification while the second part of the tragedy is preoccupied with the audience response in the form of balancing of emotions of pity and fear. One thing must be mentioned that Aristotle has not defined the term catharsis in the Poetics that is why it is the most controversial term and is still being defined by different critics, writers and those who know or those who do not know Greek. Different thesis or antithesis are found regarding this term. However this term is taken into three meanings: Purgation, Purification and Clarification.

The term Catharsis is taken as the medical metaphor-Purgation. Keeping in mind the medical theory, it is propounded by some critics as the Homeopathic treatment of curing the like with the like. They are of the view that the emotions of pity and fear are aroused and then they are cured. They are taken to the balanced state and resultantly, Catharsis is accomplished. They refer to Aristotlean statement that is:

Religious frenzy is cured by arousing certain tunes which arouse religious frenzy.

Sigmon Fraud and other psychologists fall in this category of critics because they give an example of the cure of Neurosis by arousing the painful memories of childhood. Milton also promotes this concept.

But the Neo-classical critics rejects the homeopathic treatment and promote the Allopathic treatment of curing the unlike with the unlike. They are of the view that the emotions of pity and fear are aroused and these aroused emotions cure rhe unlike or negative emotions such as Hatred, Jealousy, over-ambitions, Hypocrisy, etc. Actually they are of the view that on watching tragedy, we witness the suffering of exceptional figures and we associate/relate ourselves with that tragic Hero and his drawbacks and resultantly, we cure our own negative emotions which may bring about tragedy on us.

But F-L-Lucas rejects the medical metaphor of Catharsis by saying that Theater is not a hospital. He is of the view that theater provides a safety valve to the audience in which they are given free space to let out their aroused emotions. Then Humphrey House promotes the meaning of Catharsis in the word Purification. He is of the view that emotions of pity and fear are purified through tragedy. The critics fallen in this category have the staunch believe in the intellectual learning and enlightenment of soul. They times and again refer to the acquilibrium of the emotions of the pity and fear and spiritual health. Purification of these emotions elevates the human soul and the soul is purged of the excessive emotions and feelings.

But these terms regarding Catharsis are strictly rejected by the Modern critics who assert that Aristotle has not taken this term with a view to the spectacle only. They say that Aristotle has taken this term technically as he has defined each and every constitutional element of tragedy in a technical manner. They give the theory of Clarification. Because according to them, by projecting too much attention to plot, Aristotle has indirectly defined the term Catharsis. To them, actually the Catharsis is the arrangement of tragic actions in such a way as arouse the emotions of pity and fear on the part of audience and consequently, these emotions are put to balance. And the Catharsis is accomplished. 

To sum up our discussion, we can say that though Aristotle has not defined the term Catharsis in the Poetic yet the reality is that it is the most important concept as it directly and categorically deals with the audience response. Because Tragedy is written for the man and the function/purpose of the tragedy is also to teach and provide pleasure along with the balance of emotions whether they are pity and fear or jealousy, Hatred or Hypocrisy.