Tragedy in Aristotles `Poetics`

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The Tragedy of Aristotle

Aristotle 's Poetics ' reflects the exceptional ability and knowledge of the famous writer and philosopher in the field of philosophy and the arts . With his thought s regarding poetry , Aristotle has been the most reliable and earliest source of information in writing stories particularly in writing a tragedy . It became the blueprint for who considered Aristotle 's Poetics ' lacking from any flaws . But could it considered that Aristotle 's Poetics ' is a perfect work ? What could be said regarding

the written tragedies that followed Aristotle 's formula and ideas ? Were they really a success , or just a tragedy within their own tragedies

Tragedy , as Aristotle believes , is an imitation of an action that is serious , complete and of a certain magnitude . If we analyze his definition , we could say that he is trying to give the initial requirements for a story be considered a tragedy . First , it is an imitation of an action . With imitation of an action , Aristotle is suggesting mimicry . Therefore , tragedy is a reflection of reality , of actions that are serious , complete and of certain magnitude . His second set of requirements then focuses on the following .[tragedy is ] in the form of action , not of narrative . Therefore Aristotle tries to say that a tragedy should show rather than to tell an imitation of an action . The third requirement revolves around this quote : . with incidents arousing pity and fear , wherewith to accomplish its katharsis of such emotions ' Here , Aristotole is already talking about the emotions that a tragedy should infuse to the spectators . Tragic pity happens when one feels empathy to the tragic hero , due to his tragic fate . However , this pity should be combined with fear . Fear can only happen if one does not want the tragic fate of the hero happens to him . It is when these two emotions combine that catharsis , or purgation is formed

To illustrate properly Aristotle 's definition of tragedy , we would use his most favourite tragedy - Oedipus Rex by Sophocles . The story passed Aristotle 's first requirement since Sophocles shows a part of reality that with events that are possible and interrelated . All that happens in the story was a product of the cause-and-effect relationship among the characters , particularly to that of the protagonist , Oedipus . The second requirement focuses on how the story should be told . In Oedipus Rex , the story of the tragic hero was told by the blind and yet wise Teiresias . However , this happens only at some points in the play particularly in the beginning and in the ending . The story was still told through the actual actions of the characters . Finally , the third requirement was also clearly observed . Pity arises when the spectators already have a clue of Oedipus ' fate . He was trying to find out who has murdered his father . While doing this , the spectators already knew that Oedipus was the one who murdered his father and married his own mother...