“ For our pity is excited by misfortunes undeservedly suffered, and our terror by some resemblance between the sufferer and ourselves.” Discuss with reference to Aristotle’s Poetics

 Aristotle's Poetics is one of the earliest and most influential works of literary theory in Western literature. In it, Aristotle discusses the various elements that make up a great work of art, including tragedy. One of the key elements of tragedy, according to Aristotle, is the experience of pity and fear in the audience. In this essay, we will discuss Aristotle's views on the causes of pity and fear in tragedy, with specific reference to the quote "For our pity is excited by misfortunes undeservedly suffered, and our terror by some resemblance between the sufferer and ourselves."

In Aristotle's view, tragedy is a form of art that evokes emotional responses in the audience. He argues that the aim of tragedy is to produce feelings of pity and fear in the audience, which will ultimately lead to a cathartic experience. The experience of pity and fear is crucial to tragedy, and it is through these emotions that the audience is able to connect with the characters on stage.

According to Aristotle, the emotion of pity is aroused in the audience when they witness a character suffering misfortunes that are undeserved. This suffering can take many forms, including physical harm, emotional pain, or loss of status or reputation. For example, in the play Oedipus Rex, the audience feels pity for the character of Oedipus, who unknowingly kills his own father and marries his mother, and then suffers a terrible fate as a result of his actions.

Aristotle argues that the audience's pity is strongest when the misfortunes suffered by the character are out of proportion to their actions or intentions. For example, in the play Medea, the character of Medea suffers a great deal after she murders her children in revenge against her husband. The audience may feel pity for Medea because they believe that her actions were caused by her extreme emotional pain and feelings of betrayal, rather than malice or evil intent.

In addition to pity, Aristotle argues that the emotion of fear is also crucial to tragedy. He suggests that the audience's fear is aroused by the resemblance between the character on stage and themselves. In other words, the audience fears that they too could suffer a similar fate if they were in the same situation as the character. This resemblance can take many forms, including a shared human experience, social status, or personal identity.

For example, in the play Antigone, the audience may feel fear for the character of Antigone, who defies the law of the state to give her brother a proper burial. The audience may fear that they too could be punished for doing what they believe is right, or that they could find themselves in a situation where they must choose between following the law and following their conscience.

Overall, Aristotle's views on the causes of pity and fear in tragedy emphasize the importance of emotional connection between the audience and the characters on stage. The experience of pity and fear allows the audience to engage with the characters on a deeper level, and to empathize with their struggles and suffering. In this way, Aristotle's Poetics remains a valuable work of literary theory, which offers insights into the nature of tragedy and its enduring appeal.