Reflect on Aristotle’s ideas in Poetics about pity and fear in an effective tragedy, and explain how the excerpt from Oedipus Rex supports this idea.
Sample Solution
In his treatise Poetics, Aristotle argued that an effective tragedy should target the emotions of both pity and fear in its audience. Specifically he claimed that it is important for such works to provoke specific reactions from viewers in order to make their messages more powerful and meaningful – with one of those responses being a sense of catharsis (release) achieved by the audience’s understanding & acceptance of events occurring in the play.
The excerpt from Oedipus Rex perfectly encapsulates this notion – as we witness King Oedipus himself grappling with horrible news concerning his own identity & future. His anguish and sorrow are palpable, having been thrust into a situation where he must come to terms with a past filled with deceit & betrayal which leads him down path tragedy without end. Yet despite all this pain there is still hope present within these words – as Oedipus finds comfort truth-telling & self-awareness, knowing that only through facing harsh realities will any chance at redemption arise.
This then illustrates how Aristotle’s description pity/fear works together create effective tragedies like Oedipus Rex – providing us insight into our own lives while giving us hope for better tomorrow! It allows viewers look beyond sadness they may feel while watching play towards larger message conveyed by writer – ultimately leaving audience feeling satisfied after finding some degree closure during last act.
Sample Solution
In his treatise Poetics, Aristotle argued that an effective tragedy should target the emotions of both pity and fear in its audience. Specifically he claimed that it is important for such works to provoke specific reactions from viewers in order to make their messages more powerful and meaningful – with one of those responses being a sense of catharsis (release) achieved by the audience’s understanding & acceptance of events occurring in the play.
The excerpt from Oedipus Rex perfectly encapsulates this notion – as we witness King Oedipus himself grappling with horrible news concerning his own identity & future. His anguish and sorrow are palpable, having been thrust into a situation where he must come to terms with a past filled with deceit & betrayal which leads him down path tragedy without end. Yet despite all this pain there is still hope present within these words – as Oedipus finds comfort truth-telling & self-awareness, knowing that only through facing harsh realities will any chance at redemption arise.
This then illustrates how Aristotle’s description pity/fear works together create effective tragedies like Oedipus Rex – providing us insight into our own lives while giving us hope for better tomorrow! It allows viewers look beyond sadness they may feel while watching play towards larger message conveyed by writer – ultimately leaving audience feeling satisfied after finding some degree closure during last act.
