Aristotle/Hamlet response
In The Poetics, Aristotle writes that tragedy is the “imitation of an action,” that it should be whole and complete and possess magnitude. He also discusses the concept of recognition and reversal, as well as catharsis (Gerould 49). According to Aristotle, a successful tragedy should contain all of these concepts. A tragedy should also contain a tragic hero, who Aristotle describes as neither exclusively good nor evil, rather a man who made a tragic mistake. Finally, Aristotle suggests that the plot of a successful tragedy must rely on action that is possible and universal. The “universal” suggests that the characters, particularly the hero, behave ...
