Theories of Catharsis

‘Catharsis’ is a Greek word. It means “purgation”, “purification” and “clarification”. It has been used only
once by Aristotle in his ‘Poetics’ while defining Tragedy, “Tragedy then is an imitation of an action that is
serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude through pity and fear effecting the proper ‘Catharsis’ of
these emotions” Based on the three meanings of the word, ‘Catharsis’ different theories have been
evolved to explain Aristotle’s conception of tragic ‘Catharsis. Read More Criticism

(A) Purgation Theory

(i) Medical Interpretation: ‘Catharsis’ has been taken to be a medical metaphor. ‘Purgation’ denotes a
pathological effect on the soul similar to the effect of medicine on the body. Some have referred it to
Homeopathic treatment with the like curing the like. Thus, pity and fear are roused and form ‘purgation’
of these emotions. Read More CriticismThus, ‘Catharsis’ implies relief. As per Pathological treatment
with the unlike curing unlike, the arousing of pity and fear was supposed to bring about the purgation of
other emotions like anger and pride.

(ii) Psychological Interpretation: Lucas and l. A. Richards reject the medical interpretation. Lucas says,
“The theatre is not a hospital. LA. Richards says that both pity and fear are harmonized and blended in
tragedy, and this balance brings relief. Read More Criticism

(iii) Ethical interpretation: In Ethical Interpretation it is explained that Divine law is working to make the
universe the best place for living. Read More Criticism The ethical interpretation is a kind of inner
illumination resulting in a more balanced attitude to life. Tragedy makes us realize that divine law
operates in the universe shaping everything for the best.
(B) The Purification Theory: Humphrey House points out. “Purgation means cleansing”. According to
him, Catharsis is an educative and controlling power. Read More Criticism According to ‘The Purification
Theory ‘Catharsis’ means that our emotions are purified of excess and defect, or reduced to
intermediate state. Thus, ‘Catharsis’ is a kind of moral conditioning.

(C) The Clarification Theory: Neither the ‘Purgation Theory’ nor the ‘Purification Theory’ examines the
whole thing. They are occupied with the psychology of the audience. Aristotle was chiefly concerned
with the technique of tragedy, not with its psychological effects. Therefore, ‘Clarification Theory’ is more
appropriate. Tragic incidents are pitiable and painful. They include murders of dear ones. Such incidents
when presented in a great tragedy produce pleasure. Read More Criticism This is the tragic paradox; this
is the pleasure peculiar to tragedy. When we see Shakespeare’s plays-Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, King
Lear, we see tragic deaths and murders, yet we get aesthetic pleasure. This pleasure is of tragic variety.
Generally Tragedies are more popular on the stage than Comedies. Thus, Tragedy provides the universal
truth. Catharsis refers to the tragic variety of pleasure. The Catharsis clause is thus definition of the
function of tragedy and not of its emotional effect on the audience.

Thus the ‘clarification Theory’ recognizes the true nature of the ‘Poetics’ as a technical treatise. It relates
to the theory of imitation and to the discussion of probability and necessity. By ‘Catharsis’ particular is
generalized, individual is universalized. Thus, Catharsis is a process of learning and therefore
pleasurable.

Aristotle’s conception of ‘Catharsis’ is purely intellectual. It is neither didactic nor theological nor is it a
moral doctrine. Read More Criticism Aristotle lays it down that Tragedy at all times makes its appeal
through emotions- through pity and fear. It can succeed only when it arouses the pity and fear proper to
it. The doctrine of Catharsis has been interpreted in many ways. Since ‘Catharsis’ is a Greek word, and
every language has its own nature, its own Grammar, and since every word of every language has its
own syntax and meaning, the debate over the meaning of ‘Catharsis’ will continue.