Catharsis: Literary Term

CATHARSIS / KATHARSIS 

The dictionary meaning of the term “Catharsis” is “the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.” Aristotle, a great Greek philosopher and critic used the term ‘Catharsis’ while defining tragedy in his critical treatise ‘Poetics’.  Look at the definition:

“Tragedy is an imitation in the form of action, not of narrative, through pity and fear affecting the proper Katharsis or purgation of these emotions.”

Different critics have developed different theories to explain the term in relation to the function of tragedy. Mainly, there are three theories as discussed below:

1.Purgation (Medical) Theory: “Purgation’ is a medical term. According to Renaissance critics, Catharsis means “purgation”. Purgation means the removal of excess dross or rubbish from the body. These critics believe that tragedy arouses the emotions like pity and fear and initiates this process of purgation in which the excess of emotions are purged from the spectator’s heart and as a result the spectator feels relaxation and this relaxation leads to pleasure.

2.   Purification (Religious) Theory:   The critics like Humphrey House reject the idea of purgation in medical sense. They believe that while watching the tragedy, the emotions of pity and fear are aroused in the heart of the spectator and their emotions and general understanding of life and human nature are purified (not purged). Purification theory involves the idea of moral learning and instruction. Here the term “Catharsis” means “Cleansing”. Butcher, an important critic also agrees with the purification theory. He observes that Catharsis involves, “not only the idea of emotional relief but the further idea of purifying the emotions to be relieved.”

3.   Clarification (Intellectual) Theory: The critics like O. B. Hardison support the clarification theory of tragedy. According to them catharsis takes place on an intellectual tone, rather than a medical or religious tone. This theory holds the idea that tragedy arouses the emotion of the spectators and thereby clarifies the spectator’s understanding of human life and nature.  

In short, Catharsis releases the emotional tensions among the audience. It makes the audience feel light, relaxed and comfortable. It gives a sense of relief and this sense of relief imparts pleasure to the audience.