In Chapter 14, Aristotle talks about the role of fear and pity in tragedy. He says that good tragedy should not show terrible events happening to people we hate (because that won’t make us feel pity), or to very evil people (because they deserve it). Instead, it should show people like us — normal, mostly good people — who suffer because of some mistake.Aristotle explains that the events in a tragedy should be surprising but still logical. Things shouldn't just happen by luck (like someone randomly escaping death); they should happen because of cause and effect, so the story feels real and emotional. Aristotle’s view on family conflicts. He says that tragic scenes are most moving when terrible things happen between family members, like "when brother kills brother, or son father, or mother son." Such events are much more shocking and emotional because they happen within close relationships where love is expected, not hatred. This betrayal or harm inside the family touches the audience deeply.For example, a brother killing a brother, or a parent harming a child. This makes the audience feel deeper pity and fear because it’s more personal and shocking. Aristotle thinks the tragedy should not show these crimes happening on stage — it’s better if they happen offstage and are reported to the audience through messengers, the horror is felt strongly without being too graphic. He says that "the deed should be done within the family... but should be enacted without bloodshed and outside the scene." Aristotle was greatly influential in understanding the emotions and feelings that tragedy evokes,by focusing on believable events, relatable characters, family tragedy, and offstage violence, the playwright can create strong feelings of pity and fear.
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Good tragedy causes pity and fear.
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Should focus on normal, mostly good people.
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Family conflicts (like parent killing child) are very powerful.
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Crimes should happen offstage, not shown directly.
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Events should be logical, not random luck.
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