Tragedy is a form of drama, theorized to have been created as a tribute to the Greek god of theater: Dionysus. This form of drama was very popular in Ancient Greece, and was performed in theaters from the late 6th century BCE (Szemerényi 302). One of the most popular tragic playwrights of the time was Sophocles, who was known for his famous work, Antigone, a tragedy in which the main character suffers greatly after burying her brother against the king’s wishes (Ridgeway 141). This tragic play was very popular in Ancient Greece, and is still performed in theaters today. This paper will discuss the idea that although the origins of Greek tragedy are debated, they are rooted in mythos and ritual for the purpose of catharsis. The greatest influence
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Typically, the main protagonist of a tragic play commits some terrible crime without realizing their foolish and arrogant mistakes. Then, as they come to realize their error, the world crumbles around them, beyond their control (Stuart 174). This basic structure of tragedy can be seen in Sophocles’ Antigone. In this play, Antigone secretly buries her brother against the king’s proclamation, which causes a chain of tragic events for both her and the people around her (Ridgeway 141). The audience’s cathartic experience is greatly increased because the events are beyond the hero’s—in this case, heroine’s—control. Although Sophocles was one of the first playwrights to explore such themes, the origins of the tragic play occurred much …show more content…
Catharsis is a term that Aristotle used to describe the effect that tragedy had on an audience. While witnessing the events occurring in a tragic play, the audience experienced the emotions of pity and fear, and were then cleansed of these emotions. At the end of a tragedy, there is a “calm, a release and repose” (Tarvin 132). Tragedy was meant to “cleanse the spirit,” and was used in Greek society as a tool to balance the emotions of the people (Bernays 321). Aristotle explains that tragedy helped both those who felt too much pity and those who felt no pity at all in their daily lives (Bernays 322). During a tragic play, both would be able to experience pity, and this would provide a release for them. Catharsis has been described as a purging of emotions, and had an “immediate and powerful impact on its audience” (Harris & Platzner 511). Because of this important effect that tragedy had on the audience, it’s purpose was “to produce not depression, but exhilaration” to the people of Ancient Greece (Harris & Platzner
Typically, the main protagonist of a tragic play commits some terrible crime without realizing their foolish and arrogant mistakes. Then, as they come to realize their error, the world crumbles around them, beyond their control (Stuart 174). This basic structure of tragedy can be seen in Sophocles’ Antigone. In this play, Antigone secretly buries her brother against the king’s proclamation, which causes a chain of tragic events for both her and the people around her (Ridgeway 141). The audience’s cathartic experience is greatly increased because the events are beyond the hero’s—in this case, heroine’s—control. Although Sophocles was one of the first playwrights to explore such themes, the origins of the tragic play occurred much …show more content…
Catharsis is a term that Aristotle used to describe the effect that tragedy had on an audience. While witnessing the events occurring in a tragic play, the audience experienced the emotions of pity and fear, and were then cleansed of these emotions. At the end of a tragedy, there is a “calm, a release and repose” (Tarvin 132). Tragedy was meant to “cleanse the spirit,” and was used in Greek society as a tool to balance the emotions of the people (Bernays 321). Aristotle explains that tragedy helped both those who felt too much pity and those who felt no pity at all in their daily lives (Bernays 322). During a tragic play, both would be able to experience pity, and this would provide a release for them. Catharsis has been described as a purging of emotions, and had an “immediate and powerful impact on its audience” (Harris & Platzner 511). Because of this important effect that tragedy had on the audience, it’s purpose was “to produce not depression, but exhilaration” to the people of Ancient Greece (Harris & Platzner