Aristotle's Theory of Tragedy

Aristotle

This blog is written as a task assigned by the head of the Department of English (MKBU), Prof. and Dr. Dilip Barad Sir.

-Introduction :-

Aristotle 

Aristotle (384 BC to 322BC) was an Ancient Greek Philosopher and Polymath, who made important contributions to logic, criticism, rhetoric, physics, biology, psychology, mathematics, metaphysics, ethics and politics. He was a student of Plato for twenty years but is famous for rejecting Plato's theory of forms.

-Aristotle 's major Books :-

Here are some major books which reflects Aristotle's ideas. 

1. The  Politics 

2. Aristotle, the Politics and the Constitution of Athens 

3. On the Soul 

4. The Metaphysics 

5. The Categories 

6. The Poetics

7. Nichomachean Ethics.

-Plato and Aristotle :-

Plato and Aristotle 

Plato and Aristotle are two of the most well- known Philosophers of ancient Greece. While they both studied under the same mentor, Plato was the teacher of Aristotle. The two Philosophers had contrasting views on several philosophical concepts from the nature of reality to the idea of the ideal state.

Plato and Aristotle had differing opinions on many topics.

One of the most fundamental difference between the two Philosophers was their approach to Metaphysics. Plato belived in the existence of a realm of abstract concepts which he referred to as forms.

These forms were the idea version of everything that exists in the phisical world, according to Plato the physical world is merely a reflection of the world of form. In contrast Aristotle rejected the idea of a separate world of forms and instead believed that everything that exists in the physical world is real.

Anthor difference between The two Philosophers was their view of the nature of knowledge. Plato belived that knowledge innate and that we gain access to it through reason and contemplation. In contrast Aristotle believed that knowledge comes from experience and observation.

-Plato's Objection :-

I partically agree with Plato's Objections.

While freedom of expression is essential in any democratic society. There is a valid concern when artists works spread misinformation, violence,hate speech without accountability. Such expression can influence society negatively. Especially the youth or those lacking critical thinking skills.

Plato, in his works like the Republic, raised serious objection to the freedom of expression and artistic liberty enjoyed by creative writers.

Homer's lliad and Odyssey :-

Homer's the Iliad and the Odyssey 

Reason for objection : Plato belived these epic poems portrayed the gods and heroes in immoral ways - showing them as jealous, vengeful, deceptive or emotionally weak. He feared such portrayed would corrupt the youth and promote irrational behaviour instead of encouraging virtue and wisdom.

As a moralist, Plato disapproves of poetry because it is immoral. A poem for Plato is a collection of copies of the ideas or forms. His opinion has been outlined in his dialogues and in the Republic.

As a philosopher he disapproves of poem because it is based on falsehood. His view that philosophy is better than poetry because a philosophy deals with ideas or truth, whereas a poet deals with what appears to him.

He believed that Truth of philosophy was more important than the pleasure of poetry. He argued that most of it should be banned from the ideal society that he described in The Republic.

Aristotelian Literary Tradition : The Aristotelian Literary Tradition is based on the ideas of the ancient Greek Philosopher Aristotle, mainly found in his critical work The Poetics , written around 335 BCE . -Concepts of the Aristotelian Literary Tradition : 1. Mimetic 2.Tragedy 3. The six elements of tragedy - - Plot - Character - Thought - Diction - Melody - Spectacle 4. Catharsis 5. Tragic Hero and Hamartia -Aristotelian Literary Tradition in Studied Texts during my B.A program :- - King Lear as Aristotelian Tragedy :

King Lear (Play)

William Shakespeare 's King Lear is a powerful Tragedy that follows many principles of the Aristotelian Literary Tradition, even though Shakespeare 's

Style also goes beyond classical rules.

King Lear closely follows Aristotle 's

Ideas of tragedy, such as the tragic hero, hamartia, catharsis.

1. Tragic Hero

King Lear is a noble King who decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters. His status as a monarch gives the play the ' magnitude ' Aristotle talked about - the downfall of a king is a serious and weighty matter.

2. Hamartia ( tragic Flaw) : -Lear's hamartia is : 1. His pride 2. His misjudgment of character He mistakes flattery for truth, rewards his daughters ( Goneril and Regan) and banishes Cordelia, the daughter who truly loves him. This error begins his tragic downfall. 3. Catharsis ( Emotional cleansing) we can easily find pity and fear. Pity, because Lear suffers terribly despite his basic goodness. Fear, because it shows how anyone - even a king can fall due to one mistake. 4. Unity and Structure : Although Shakespeare does not strictly follow Aristotle's three unities ( Time, Place, Action) King Lear still maintain: - A unified Central plot ( Lear's Downfall) - A parallel subplot ( Gloucester and his Sons) that reflects and deepens the main themes. This structure supports Aristotle 's Idea that the plot is the soul of tragedy.

Tragic Protagonist :

The tragic protagonist in this play is King Lear himself. He is a noble and powerful king, but he makes a serious error in judgment by dividing his kingdom based on his daughters’ flattering words. He misjudges his loyal daughter Cordelia and trusts his ungrateful daughters Goneril and Regan.

His hamartia (tragic flaw) is his pride and lack of self-knowledge. He values flattery over truth and fails to see the genuine love of Cordelia. This flaw leads to his downfall — he loses his kingdom, his sanity, and ultimately, his life.

Plot of king Lear :-

many of the tragedies I studied during my B.A. program, such as Shakespeare’s King Lear, followed several of the key rules and principles proposed by Aristotle in Poetics

The plot of King Lear is driven by a clear cause-and-effect structure. Lear’s decision to divide his kingdom based on his daughters’ flattery causes a series of tragic events: betrayal, madness, war, and death. Each action leads logically to the next, showing causal necessity rather than randomness. The events in the play, while dramatic, feel probable and necessary based on human behavior and emotion. For example, Lear’s downfall is psychologically realistic—his pride makes his banishment of Cordelia believable, and the betrayal by Goneril and Regan is consistent with their earlier behavior. The tragedy has a beginning, middle, and end, forming a complete narrative arc.

Recent Controversy that echoes Plato's Objection to Artistic freedom :-

The subject matter—the fall of a king, family betrayal, and human suffering—is of great seriousness and magnitude, fitting Aristotle’s idea of a proper tragic subject.

- Tandav (2021) :-

A recent example that reflects Plato’s objection to artistic freedom is the controversy over the web series "Tandav" on Netflix (2021).

Some people said that the show hurt religious feelings because it showed Hindu gods in a wrong or disrespectful way. Many people got angry, filed complaints, and asked the government to ban the show. This is similar to what Plato believed.

Plato thought that artists can misguide people by showing wrong ideas or false emotions. He said poets and artists should be controlled, because their work can affect the minds of the public, especially young people.

In the Tandav case, some people felt that the show was spoiling values and culture, which is exactly what Plato warned about.

My Opinion :

I think freedom of art and expression is important, but artists should also be careful and respectful. They should not hurt people’s feelings or create hate.

References :

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373258361_Aristotle's_Poetics