The Relation between Seneca’s Hercules Furens and Aristotle’s Poetics E

The Relation in the midst of Senecas Hercules Furens and Aristotles Poetics The intent of this paper is to discuss Senecas Hercules Furens in relation to Aristotles description of tragedy as outlined in the Poetics. It begins by discussing character, and attempts to determine the nature of Hercules error (a(marti/a).11 The paper then discusses matters of mend (muqoj), attempting to determine the degree to which Hercules Furens meets Aristotles requirements for good tragedy in this regard. jibe to Aristotle, the best tragedy evokes feelings of fear and leniency.22 Since characters in a tragedy essential perform action (pracij), it follows that the best tragedy must contain several(prenominal) action that is repugnant (mia&ron) or terrible, so as to inspire pity and fear.33 In Hercules Furens this action is Hercules murder of his wife and children. Here, as a turn up of his madness, Hercules commits a obscene act in ignorance of what he does, which according to Aristotle is we ar out than to act with knowledge of the wickedness of the act (he gives Medeas murder of her children as an example). The very best tragedy, however, is one in which the character is ignorant of the repulsive act he is about to commit, yet becomes aware of that act tho in time to refrain from committing it. Obviously this last is not the mooring with Hercules, and therefore Aristotle would count Senecas tragedy as belonging to the back up best type (like Sophocles Oedipus).However, there is a second action of this sort out that occurs at end of the play, when Hercules intends to kill himself. It occurs just as Hercules is about to anticipate out the act of suicide. Here Amphitrion also threatens to kill himself should Hercules die aut vivis aut occidis (1308), eithe... ... 10.10 Poet. 1452a25-30.11 Poet. 1452a20-25.12 Poet. 1452a30.13 Poet. 1452a25.14 Lawall (1983) 10 argues that the final act, not the madness, is the true dramatic climax of the play.Works CitedAristotles Poe tics. Trans. Apostle, H. G., E. A. Dobbs, and M. A. Parslow. Grinell, IA The Peripatetic Press 1990.Lawall, Gibert. Virtus and Pietas in Senecas Hercules Furens. Senecan Tragedy. Spec. issue of Ramus 12.1-2 (1983) 6-26.Motto, A. L. and J. R. Clark. Maxima Virtus in Senecas Hercules Furens. Classical Philology 76 (1981) 101-17.Additional Works ConsultedMotto, A. L. and J. R. Clark. The hellion in Senecas Hercules Furens 926-939. Classical Philology 89 (1994) 269-72.Rose, A. R. Senecas get over Song (Hercules Furens, 125-58) and the Imagery of Cosmic Disruption. Latomus 44.1 (1985) 101-23.