As described in Aristotle’s Poetics, the reception and reaction which the audience has to a tragedy is crucial and known as catharsis. This is the purging of emotions such as pity and fear from audience members after engaging with a tragic play. It is deeper than merely feeling surface level sadness or shock because of the unfortunate turn of events or storyline. Rather, catharsis refers to a cleansing of the mind and emotions allowing individuals to confront and regulate their own emotions, after viewing struggles and suffering of characters. Seeing such human mistakes and even a reflection of themselves in the tragic mistakes or difficulties which characters endure creates an open space for emotions to be expressed. For readers, catharsis allows for exploration and understanding of emotions that are not easily spoken about, such as guilt and grief. Catharsis encourages associating oneself with a character’s actions and journey as this creates self-awareness and empathy for oneself instead of condemnation. In modern times, there are sad movies made, but these become more emotionally charged and meaningful when one is able to resonate with a character and seek to understand themselves and how to progress in their human journey. In this way, literature fulfills its purpose in being a tool to understanding one’s humanity and that of others. Through storytelling, ranging from sharing and journaling personal tales, or listening to that of others, patients and families in hospice situations particularly, can safely release their emotions. During the end-of-life transition, complex emotions, such as love, regret fear, and grief, naturally surface and can be difficult to express openly. Like the audience of a tragedy, they can engage with difficult emotions and have a better grasp of humanity and connection instead of suppressing these. For families, catharsis can transform grief into an opportunity to better understand and reminisce even amidst loss. For patients, expressing their own stories can allow them to experience catharsis for themselves, restoring their identity and dignity which they may have lost sight of during illness.

Defying the laws of the land requires great courage and carries even greater significance and implications when this is done for reason of morality. Being able to recognize the inherent immorality and disrespect which is bound up in a higher authority, and act against it, not to purely rebel, but for advocacy and protection of moral obligations is extremely profound and encourages correct living in society. Antigone clearly does this through her action of burying her brother, considered a traitor to her city of Thebes, although this defies the law set in place by King Creon, who was also her uncle. While her action was viewed as outright disobedience and treason to authority, it was a display of true courage and advocacy, treating her fallen brother rightly, with dignity even in death, as all people deserve. Antigone’s courage was ultimately rooted in firm commitment to principles which no human ruler could restrict. She demonstrated that these values of honoring the dead, advocating for the vulnerable and devotion to family, are fundamental to being human and cannot be compromised to appease a flawed human ruler. Antigone’s actions emphasize that morality cannot be defined and mindlessly followed by laws or government. Creon represents that moral flaws within human laws that can occur, and the consequences which follow when these are bound to so tightly, even when it is clear that they challenge what the human heart recognizes as righteous and correct. Antigone’s resistance reveals the tension between adhering to what is legal versus what is ethically right, which exists to this day. In the end, Antigone finds favor in the eyes of the gods, dying with honor and their approval, as they praised her bravery to defend higher moral laws although this guaranteed a consequence of death. On the other hand, Creon created discord within his family, with his son and wife ending up committing suicide in a rippling effect of his stubbornness and refusal to withdraw the law; he lived on but was emotionally destroyed by grief. Such different ends for these two more profoundly indicates that dignity and compassion must be upheld, and losing sight of these is destruction of self and one’s humanity. Moral courage should not be an exception reserved for the especially bold, but an action everyone must be willing to take to uphold dignity, even when it is dangerous.

The tragic story of Icarus is often reduced to the warning “don’t fly too close to the sun.” However, his story offers greater complexity and relevance to us today. In the original story, to escape from imprisonment in a tower, Daedalus creates a pair of wings for himself and his son. Daedalus understands the danger, but still carries out a risky plan, as they will have to fly high enough not to crash into the ocean waves below, but also low enough so that the wax holding the wings together does not melt. So, he repeatedly warns his son, Icarus, to fly in the middle for his own safety. Therefore, Icarus’ tragic end as he soars too high, allowing the sun to melt the wax of his wings is viewed as hubris and disregard for his father’s practical warnings. In the context of the ancient times in which Ovid wrote his Metamorphoses, Icarus’ story is framed as the tragic demise which would be given to those who allowed their overweening pride to guide their actions, and disrespected their parents, which violates pietas. However, in modern times, a reexamination of Icarus’ story is occurring, with many praising his daring and ambition. Icarus’ story could be reinterpreted as Daedalus limiting his abilities and wanting a mediocre life for him, flying in the middle, rather than encouraging the extraordinary, although this has greater risk. Icarus merely had more ambitious goals, but unfortunately having these does not guarantee success. Icarus was human, susceptible to failure, shown through his tragic fall from the sky. Icarus’ story in modern times, serves to show that high ambition can result in consequences like exhaustion or burnout. Were the few moments that Icarus spent in glory and freedom worth a tragic demise, or would it have been better for him to remain confined, but safe? In my opinion, following the steps of Icarus and being able to fly, experiencing true happiness and accomplishment in pursuit of one’s aspirations, even though this may be fleeting, is worthwhile. The bold action of Icarus is ultimately better than living in fear of possible failure and accepting mediocrity. 

Aeneas, as the founder of the Roman people and the main character of the Aeneid, is framed as the ideal Roman citizen. He embodies the core virtue of their culture, pietas, a deep sense of devotion to the gods, country and family. To bolster the name and reputation of Rome and alsocreate an idealized character for the Romans to emulate, Virgil makes Aeneas’ character almost completely symbolic, unable to do wrong. Side characters of the Aeneid are introduced as foils to Aeneas, meant to make him appear even greater and more noble. However, what if these sidecharacters actually grasped and embodied pietas, and were truly better role models for the Roman people than Aeneas? The two characters, Dido and Camilla, stand out, as they impact the plot of the epic, and are recognized by scholars as atypical, and truly extraordinary.