Question

What does catharsis mean?

1) The audience empathizes with characters enough to care what happens to them
2) The audience feels a sense of relief or release of emotions
3) The audience becomes emotionally detached from the characters
4) The audience experiences a state of confusion or uncertainty

Answer 1

Catharsis is the emotional release that the audience experiences during or after a drama, especially a tragedy, leading to the purification of emotions like pity and fear.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term catharsis refers to the emotional release experienced by the audience during or after watching a drama, particularly a tragedy. As explored by Aristotle, catharsis is defined as the process of experiencing a profound emotional state, often through feelings of pity and fear, that results in the purification or purging of these emotions. The correct definition aligns with Aristotle's concept in Poetics, where he notes that after witnessing the unfolding events and their consequences on stage, audiences reach a point of catharsis that provides an emotional cleansing, offering relief and potentially increasing their moral understanding. This emotional engagement is crucial as it allows the audience to empathize with the characters and encourages a reflection on human behavior and morality.