![]() ![]() If you enjoyed this summary of Aristotle’s Poetics, you might also enjoy our brief history of tragedy. Catharsis – spectator motivated to purge his own tragic flaw. End = catastrophe – hero suffers consequences. Middle = stimulation of hamartia – tragic flaw peripetiae – reversal of fortune anagnorisis – moment of realization. ![]() ![]() We might summarise the structure of tragedy as follows: beginning = prosperity of hero. The tragic element also arises from his status in society – because he is the king and what happens to him will have wide social repercussions. We pity Oedipus’ decline because, except for one or two faults, he is basically a good man. The spectator can still empathize with the hero because he is not an unregenerate figure. The flaw is both individual and social – an undesirable element that would lead a person to go against the laws of land. ![]() Aristotle’s term for this is catharsis: the spectator should be purged of undesirable elements that prevent his happiness. 11.95 Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns FREE delivery Friday, May 12 on orders shipped by Amazon over 25 Or fastest delivery Wednesday, May 10. Because the spectator empathizes with the protagonist, he will be led to recognize his own tragic flaw whatever that may be – and he will want to root it out so that he does not end in the same way as the fallen hero. This isn’t the happiest of endings so, what’s the aim of tragedy? To teach you how to be a better person. ![]()
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