Catharsis

Aristotle describes catharsis as "the purging of emotions such as pity and fear that are aroused in the audience's experience of tragic drama. This emotional cleansing or purification is integral to the experience of tragedy and allows the audience to achieve a sense of emotional balance and renewal" (Aristotle). I.e., it is the process through which the audience's pent-up emotions, e.g., fear and pity, are alleviated, leaving them with a sense of emotional equilibrium.

Examples:

Sophocles' Oedipus Rex: In this classic Greek tragedy, Oedipus unknowingly fulfills a prophecy, leading to his tragic downfall. As the audience witnesses his suffering, they experience catharsis. The intense emotion of pity is evoked, and by the play's conclusion, these emotions are purged, leaving the audience with a sense of emotional relief and clarity.

Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment: In this novel, the protagonist, Raskolnikov, commits a murder and grapples with guilt and moral turmoil. As readers follow his psychological journey. The novel's exploration of Raskolnikov's inner struggles allows readers to confront their own moral dilemmas.

Sources:

Aristotle. "Poetics." Translated by Malcolm Heath, Penguin Classics, 1996.

Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Various editions.

Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Various editions.

By Adam Nemrava