Asked by mimis
What is the definition of catharsis?
the defect of character that brings about the protagonist’s downfall in a tragedy
a process in a tragedy in which a character heals, often through a painful realization
the final event of extreme misfortune in the dramatic action of a tragedy
a difficult choice involving a decision based on values, which challenges one's belief system
All Answers 1
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The best choice is the second one.
More precisely, catharsis (in Aristotle) is the purgation or emotional release of pity and fear experienced by the audience through a tragedy, producing a sense of renewal or relief. (Option 2 approximates this idea, though classically it refers to the audience’s emotional effect rather than a character’s healing.) Options 1–4 correspond more exactly to hamartia (1), catastrophe (3), and a moral dilemma (4).
More precisely, catharsis (in Aristotle) is the purgation or emotional release of pity and fear experienced by the audience through a tragedy, producing a sense of renewal or relief. (Option 2 approximates this idea, though classically it refers to the audience’s emotional effect rather than a character’s healing.) Options 1–4 correspond more exactly to hamartia (1), catastrophe (3), and a moral dilemma (4).
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