Aristotle and Tragedy
To Aristotle, tragedy had to follow certain characteristics. These included certain rendering of protagonist, the style of the writing, the direction of the plot, the diction, the reflection, the context, and the melody. Each and everything had its own nuances and meaning and the ideal Tragedy would be written in such a way that the reader or spectator would find the protagonist similar to himself and pity him all the more. Seeing the protagonist as a naive person whose misfortune came about through error rather than through vice, the reader may identify with himself and see the same situation occurring to him. This purging of fear will cause a catharsis that will balance the emotions and leave the person with a greater emotional well-being than he had before.
It is in this manner, that Aristotle considered Tragedy to be a greater tool than history since it dramatizes the cause-and-effect and makes the person feel a part of the incident bringing the person into it.
Of all Tragedies, the story of Oedipus seems to personify Aristotle's characteristics of Tragedy most succinctly. This essay, therefore, is an elaboration of Aristotle's treatise of Tragedy when contrasted to the tragedy of Oedipus. Many of Aristotle's principles are evidenced in Oedipus. Using the story as example, we can better understand his characteristics of attributes of a tragedy.
The Characteristics of Aristotelian Tragedy.
In his volume Poetics, Aristotle comments that:
"Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its katharsis of such emotions. . . . Every Tragedy, therefore, must have six parts, which parts determine its quality -- namely, Plot, Characters, Diction, Thought, Spectacle, Melody. (Aristotle; Poetics)
According to Aristotle, Tragedy is the kind of situation that personifies real life as closely as possible and leads the spectator or reader to a certain feelings. These feelings are called catharsis where the reader emotes, or feels a certain implode of emotion as he identifies with the hero.
The best heroes therefore, are those who the reader can most accurately identify with, who overcome tremendous suffering, where the fates have already arraigned themselves against the hero and placed enormous obstacles in his path, and which the hero, resourceful and adventurous as he is, will hardly overcome.
The spectator, watching the story and above it all, knows that the hero will fall. This is the tragedy of it. For, identifying with the hero and wanting him to succeed, he knows that the gods have the hero in the palm of their hand and that it is they ultimately who w ill win.
Tragedy, therefore, according to Aristotle, is artistry supreme.
In a practical manner, the author constructs his tragedy by delineating it into six parts. These are in turn:
Plot -- the theme of the story by which the hero starts his adventures, something happens to the hero, he appears as though her were about to win. He fails and is vanquished. Most plots commence with the hero being in a fortunate situation and apparently able to vanquish all odds.
Characters - the hero is generally someone who the reader can identity with. He is extremely human.
Diction -- The diction pertains to style and technique that carries the tragedy along and, in intelligent, creative way brings the tragedy alive so that it moves the audience
Thought -- there is reflection and sometimes a lesson behind the tragedy. The lesson usually was (at least to the ancient Greeks) that the gods control life and that there is little one can do about that. Namely, that one is a plaything to the gods capriciousness.
Spectacle -- this is the background / context of the Tragedy. There are often props, such as blood, demons, or shadows that foreshadow and hint to adversity that is to come.
Melody -- refers to the tune and consonance of the play as well as its flow. The build up of suspense...
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