Why do people like reading about tragedy?

Tragedy imparts knowledge, whatever its cost in pain. In any case, tragedies allow us to expand our view of the world and assimilate that view at the same time, and they allow us to bear witness to events and say, This Really Happened. All of this is a bit lofty, and understandably so, for tragedy is a lofty subject.

Why are tragic stories popular?

Tragedies usually end in death, often the death of the main character or characters, and they are designed to help the audience experience catharsis, or the purging of negative emotions.

Why do authors write tragedies?

The purpose of tragedy can be considered on at least two fronts. Author write because the story emotionally moves them and, with tragedies, perhaps to warn readers. Readers bring their own purposes to the story, to the characters, and to the final resolution.

How does tragedy affect the audience?

Aristotle states that a well written tragedy produces catharsis. It produces a feeling of pity and fear in the audience watching it. The audience should feel pity for the tragic hero or heroine, a good person who falls from good fortune to bad fortune through no fault of their own.

How do you describe a tragedy in writing?

Here’s that definition again: A tragic story is one where the main character is either dead at the end, or would be better off dead. You can have a very sad story, but if at the end the main character has learned something and will soldier on and be better for it, the story isn’t tragic.

Is reading sad books good for you?

Such exposure produces an awareness that helps us fight for betterment — or at least understand the problems. To process our own experiences and emotions. Oftentimes, reading a book that echoes your own experiences is cathartic, enabling you to express long-dormant thoughts and excise suppressed emotion.

Why do people enjoy sad things?

Sad isn’t always Bad Several studies conducted by music psychologists suggest that people who are high in empathy are more likely to enjoy sad music. This might be because they better understand or are more easily moved by the perceived emotions it conveys (i.e. sensitive to emotional contagion).

Why do we read tragedy?

One interpretation of this is that by viewing tragedies, we purge ourselves of excessive passions. Another interpretation posits that tragedies are instructive, and that they teach us to balance our feelings of pity and fear (i.e. so that we learn to feel the correct amount, neither too much nor too little).

Does watching a tragedy make you feel better?

After watching a tragedy and shedding some tears, people often express a sentiment like, “I feel better now. I needed a good cry.” But while I’m sure their “pleasure” is genuine, I’m not convinced that Aristotle was right (here is an interesting podcast transcript that offers a critique of catharsis: What Does Tragedy Do For People?)

Why are tragedy and comedy so popular?

If there are any genres of art that have pervaded through the ages and remained popular, they are tragedy and comedy. Tragedy is a bit more close to everyone’s heart as it strikes a chord with most of its audience or readers with its emotional appeal. Home / Uncategorized / Deciphering the Age-old Question: Why are Tragedies So Popular?

How does Tragedy give us pleasure?

Tragedy might gives us pleasure by presenting ‘how the world works’. Or just makes us think deeper. See Eudaimonia for more. Eternal justice: Philosophy. There is always someone winning in the tragedy. To be precise, the ‘right one’ wins in the end, which is defined by the ‘norm’ (moral).