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Aristotles The Poetics - Term Papers

Aristotles The Poetics

In Aristotle's The Poetics, tragedy is stated as being "an imitation not only of a complete action but, also of incidents arousing pity and fear (137)." As Agamemnon, one of the works of Aeschylus, begins, pity is immediately brought into play. Although the audience does not see it, Agamemnon makes a difficult decision. He is a great leader and must make a sacrifice to please the Gods in order for them to produce the wind he needs to continue his voyage. Agamemnon's dilemma is that he must sacrifice his daughter Iphigeneia. He would be doing so for the good of the state. It is his duty to save and protect his people. He puts the state above his personal interests and makes the sacrifice ...

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pain and suffering of sacrificing his daughter and then watch, his people die at a war fought over a woman. The tragedy of the war is briefly described in the beginning of the play. The audience feels a great deal of pity for the young men that died and the families that suffered the loss of a loved one. The reason for the war was meaningless. It was fought to win back a woman.
The arousal of fear is provoked in the audience when Cassandra gives the description of the murdered of the children of Thyestes being eaten by their father. It also illustrates the magnitude of the tragedy. Fear is induced in the reader when Cassandra describes the scene.
Their hands filled with their own flesh, as food to eat. I see them holding out their inward parts, the vitals, oh pitiful, that meat their father tasted of…. (44)
The children were described as being eaten by "those who were most dear to them (Aeschylus 44)" (their father Thyestes). They were innocent children that loved ...

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Added: 9/4/2004 09:13:08 PM
Category: Miscellaneous
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1129
Pages: 5

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