I have always thought of tragedy as a devastating event or an extremely negative outcome of a challenging situation in a person's life. Emotions accompanying my perspective of tragedy include sadness and hope for both the person affected and for others to never have to go through the same experience. Through our reading and analysis of the poem "Pathedy of Manners", I have learned that tragedy in one's life often cannot be avoided, but in some circumstances, the victim has the ability to prevent the tragic event by doing something about the original problem they are faced with.
After reading more about tragedy as a subject of literature and entertainment, I have realized that I had never really thought about tragedy in the literary sense, or as a "form of drama based on human suffering," but instead as a part of real-world and real-life situations today. I think it is interesting to think of awful things that happen to characters in a poem or story as pleasurable to see and read about. Because we know that these tragic events can and have occurred in real people's lives, diving into a story based on tragedy can bring forth strong feelings and emotions. Through my reading about the definition of tragedy, I have learned the meaning of catharsis and discovered that it fits my initial thoughts of tragedy. Tragedy "invokes in its audience an accompanying catharsis," or purgation of emotions- especially pity and fear. These emotions match up with the thoughts and feelings that I experience when thinking about tragedy or hearing of a tragic event in one's life or in a story.
I am really looking forward to reading and writing more about tragedy and discovering new aspects of it that I would not have expected or thought of before!
After reading more about tragedy as a subject of literature and entertainment, I have realized that I had never really thought about tragedy in the literary sense, or as a "form of drama based on human suffering," but instead as a part of real-world and real-life situations today. I think it is interesting to think of awful things that happen to characters in a poem or story as pleasurable to see and read about. Because we know that these tragic events can and have occurred in real people's lives, diving into a story based on tragedy can bring forth strong feelings and emotions. Through my reading about the definition of tragedy, I have learned the meaning of catharsis and discovered that it fits my initial thoughts of tragedy. Tragedy "invokes in its audience an accompanying catharsis," or purgation of emotions- especially pity and fear. These emotions match up with the thoughts and feelings that I experience when thinking about tragedy or hearing of a tragic event in one's life or in a story.
I am really looking forward to reading and writing more about tragedy and discovering new aspects of it that I would not have expected or thought of before!