Critically examine Aristotle`s view on the importance of plot and character. Part 1

Aristotle says, “The representation of the action is plot of the tragedy; for the ordered arrangement of the incidents is what I mean by plot.” Actually the tragedy, according to Aristotle is impossible is without plot but it can be without character. The plot is the ordering of the incidents; for tragedy is a representation, not of men, but of action and life, of happiness and unhappiness and happiness and unhappiness are bound up with action. There cannot be tragedy without action but there can be without character. Plot is essential for the arrangement of the incidents; character, on the other hand, is that which enables us to define the nature of the participants and  thought comes out in what they say when they are proving / indicating a point or expressing an action. Let us discuss the view of Aristotle’s plot and character.

Aristotle defines, “tragedy, then is a representation of an action that is worth serious attention, complete it in self, and of some amplitude; in language enriched by a variety of artistic devices appropriate to the several parts of the play, presented in the form of action, not narration, by means of pity and fear bringing about the purgation of such emotions. “ Aristotle determines six constituents of every tragedy. They are plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle and song. Of these two represented. According to Aristotle, of all the elements the most important is the plot, the ordering of the incident;…………… Next Page 2

Critically examine Aristotle`s view on the importance of plot and character. Part 2

Previous Page……………….……….The plot is the first essential of tragedy, its life-blood, some plots are simple and some plots are complex, for the obvious reason that the action of which they are represented are of one  or other of these kinds. A simple action refers to one which is single and continuous and in which the change of fortune comes about without a reversal or a discovery. A complex action is one in which the change is accompanied by a discovery or both. It is told that tragedy is the representation of an action that is complete and whole and of a certain amplitude for a thing may be whole yet lack amplitude. Now a whole is that which has a beginning, a middle and an rnd. So, well –constructed plots must neither begin nor end in a haphazard way but must conform to the pattern.

Aristotle also arrests that the plot of tragedy should be such that it must arouse pity and fear ad does not necessarily end in total gloom but produces us a kind of tragic pleasure – cathartic effect and with this view in mind Aristotle recommends suffering involving near and dear relations in the plot of tragedy. Aristotle says that pity is awakened by undeserved misfortune and he does say that fear comes out by that of someone just like ourselves. Aristotle would like to say that it is the plot that gives the form to the drama and it is the plan that makes character significant and dramatic. A play id like a living organism and the plot is its driving force - soul. The plot is the origin of the play, the foundation of the play. The plot is not only the beginning but also the end of the tragedy. The important tragic action originates in a conflict, Hence…………… Next Page 3

Critically examine Aristotle`s view on the importance of plot and character. Part 3

Previous Page 2…………….….According to Aristotle character is sub – ordinate to plot. Character is that which enables us to define the nature of the participants. The purpose of living and which is a kind of activity, not a quality; it is their characters, indeed, that make men what they are, but it is by reason of their actions that they are happy or the reverse. Tragedy is performed, therefore, in order to represent character, although character is involved for the sake of action. There could not be a tragedy without action but there could be without character. In life as in drama both the mental disposition, moral thoughts of a person express himself in his speech and in his action. The character of an individual is formed by the action. His depends on his action. Therefore, we can say character is sub – ordinate to action. In character we notice the inner self of a man. The character resorts to dialogue to explain his motives and actions. Character comes secondary to action. Aristotle says, “Plot is the first principle and the soul of the tragedy and character hold the second place. “There is another important point to note that reversals and recognitions are two constituents of plot. The dramatic action consists of a series of events that are related to one another. The characters do not act as they like. They have to act according to the situation and circumstances in which they are placed as well as in relation to other characters.

The well conceived plot will have single interest, and nit as some say, a double. The change in fortune will be, not from misery to prosperity but the reverse, from prosperity to misery, and it will be due, not to depravity but to some great error either in such a man or in another better than this, but nit worse.

In fine, it is told that both plot and character are important constituents of composing a tragedy but between the two, Plot plays most important role because the well-constructed plot functions as the life-blood and it ends in a smooth way and must conform to the purpose the writer desires but the character acts as the secondary medium of a tragedy. However, both the constituents the plot and the character are very essential to form a tragedy.

The lion and the mouse

One day a lion was sleeping before its cave. A mouse was playing nearby.( a short story )  By chance it ran over the lion’s body. ( a short story ) The lion woke up and became very angry. ( a short story ) He caught the mouse and said, ‘’thou little pest, I will kill thee. How dare you tease me?’’ The mouse begged for its life. It said, ‘’You Majesty, I am a tiny creature. If you kill a poor creature like me, it will do you no honor. Save my life for this time. ( a short story ) ‘’Out of pity the lion let the mouse go. Some days after the lion was caught in a hunter’s net. The lion tried hard but could not get out. He began to roar. The mouse heard the roar of the lion. It at once came to the net and said, ‘’Your Majesty, please be quite. ( a short story ) I will gnaw at the ropes of the net with my little sharp teeth. Then you will be released.’’ The mouse cut the net into pieces with its teeth and set the lion free. The lion said, ‘’Dear little friend, you have saved my life.( a short story )  Even a little mouse can do a great good to a mighty lion.’’

The Honest Wood Cutter

The lived a wood cutter in a village.( a short story )  One day he was cutting wood in jungle near a pond. ( a short story ) Suddenly his axe fell into a river. The river was very deep and the wood cutter did not know how to swim or dive. So, he was sitting there with a heavy heart. He was very poor and he had not the money to buy another axe. He was thinking what to do. ( a short story ) He was very depressed and blaming his lot. Suddenly, he heard voce and saw a fairy before him. The fairy asked him why he was crying. He told her everything. The fairy took pity on him. She went into the river and came back with a golden axe. She asked the wood cutter if his axe was. ( a short story ) The wood cutter replied in the negative. She then again went into the water and replied with a silver one. This time also the wood-cutter refused to take it. Finally, she brought the axe of the wood cutter from the water. ( a short story ) The wood cutter was delighted to get back his iron axe.( a short story )  The fairy became very pleased with the wood cutter at his honesty and gave him the two valuable axes as reward. Honesty in thus always rewarded.

The crow and the jar

Once upon a time on a sultry day in summer, a crow felt very thirsty. ( a short story ) It flew to and fro looking for water. But it could find no water anywhere. At last it grew so thirsty that it thought that it would die.( a short story )  It, however, continued its search and found a jar at some distance. At once the crow flew down to have a drink of water from the jar. But it found that there was a little water at the bottom of the jar. ( a short story ) It thrust its beak into the jar. It could by no means reach it with its beak. But it did not lose heart. It tried to overturn the jar but failed. It was about to fly away when it saw some stones a little way from the jar.( a short story )  At once it hit upon a plan. ( a short story ) It picked up the stones one and dropped them into the jar. When he had dropped a large number of stones, the water in the jar rose high enough for him to reach it. Then the crow quenched its thirst drinking water to its heart’s content.( a short story )