Aristotle’s poetic theory was the first philosophical dissertation in the West to center on literary theory, and it is the earliest extant exertion of dramatic theory. In this theory, Aristotle describes poetry, which in Greek means “making” to explain the domain and context of literary work categories as verse drama; including tragedy and comedy, and satyr play comprising of lyrics and epic poetry (Eden 4). According to Aristotle, all these genres are similar because they are all imitations but different in three ways; music harmony, meter and melody; characters goodness; and how the story is presented, either by telling or acting. According to Aristotle, a play should adhere to three dramatic principles, which include unity of time, unity of place and unity of action. This paper tries to examine how Bacchae by Euripides and Cat by Williams in relation to Aristotelian traditional drama.
According to Aristotle drama should include imitations of renowned and perfect action by use of attractive music and dance, which comprise the matter of the poetic creation. Thus the drama should be acted and not narrated (Eden 52). The actions should be such that they are achievable and possible, and not absurd because absurdity exists only outside drama. Thus language, melody and thyme, which may involve the playing of musical instruments, include three forms of mimesis of drama. In the play “Bacchae” Euripides has used music and dance as part of the language. For example the Bacchae who constitute the chorus of the play, and who are the female worshipers from Asia usually worship their god Dionysus vie music and songs. On his revenge mission, Dionysus has cast a spell on his aunt and other women who had refused to worship him and to vindicate his mother, and sent dancing and hunting on Mount Cithaeron. In the play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” there is also element of reference to music which plays a vital role in the drama besides the good diction that is colorful and imaginative. For example when Maggie tells Brick in Act One “you have that rare sort of charm that usually only happens in very old or helplessly sick people the charm of the defeated- you look so cool…” (Williams, 24).
The drama should have a unity of action, through combination and arrangement of events in the play to form one action or story line. Every drama should have a beginning, middle and an end all connected through a chronological arrangement of events (Eden 17). Both Euripides and William’s play have adhere to this principle has the story line follows a chronological order of event which enhances the attention of the audience in following the plot of the play. For example in Bacchea the play begins with Dionysus explaining the circumstances surrounding his birth, the casting of spell to women who refused to worship him, which drove them to the mountains and the end where the spell wanes after Agave has killed his son Pentheus. In the play by Williams all the actions that happens are centered on the family gathering where they are celebrating a birthday party and the event are arranged as they unfold.
Drama should have a unity of time, which determines the length of the play. According to Aristotle an ideal time frame for a drama for example tragedy, should be within 24hours to help audience remember the events of the play (Eden 27. However, there can be small variation depending on the form of the play. Although the two plays can be acted on stage in less than a day, the event in the play Bacchea are spread and take plays over a wrong period of time, not within 24hours, while in the play by Williams the event are centered on a family gathering one evening during a birthday celebration of Big Daddy Pollitt.
Another principle of Aristotle Poetics of drama is unity of place (Eden 31). Since a play is to be acted on stage, it should not occupy more space that what can be realistically set on the stage. Thus, drama should take place within one setting, which can be for example, setting room, hall or a market place. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof adhere the principle as most of the activities take place inside the room where the family gathering is taking place. On the other hand, the activities the play Bacchea take place in various place including the mountain, and the village.
Aristotle theory of drama point out that a good drama depend on how the characters, who are also the subjects or agent of the play are treated, and the method used by the character to present the story; either by use of direct speech or narration by a narrator (Eden 96). The foundation of the play by Williams is based on the conversations between characters that are important as well as entertaining and appear to be genuine. Euripides also uses character to present his story. Through the conversation of the characters to each other we understand the traits and the purpose of the characters as agents of performance. Each character plays a vital role in conveying the main ideas of the play. For example, the main characters in the play Bacchea express limited set of varied form of wisdom that enhances the flow of ideas. Both plays adhere to Aristotle’s theory of drama through their presentation of characters that are serious, appropriate and consistent characters.
A good drama should use spectacles, which include the visual apparatus of the play (Eden 63). The playwright usually includes the stage directions and the setting of the play in the presentation of the story to help the audience understand and be part of the play. These visual spectacles include mostly the setting of the stage, the props and costumes. However, Aristotle argues that spectacles are less important in the work of playwright because the beauty does not determine the performance of the play. For example the set of the play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, can be staged on a roof which is light on both sides to symbolize the “hot tin”. All drama can be staged and acted, including the two play by Euripides and Williams with different customization of the costumes and props depending on the suitability to the performers.
Aristotle’s theory of drama which focuses on the work performed in the presence of audience by the actors is still relevance today after many centuries, not only as stage performance but also in the modern performing art media such as the television set and the movie screen. Although limited, Aristotle’s Poetics dramatic principles are applied in other works of fiction, whether narrated or acted. Aristotle’s poetic is used in the Western world in drama as the standard structure of drama where other ideas are built from. For example, most of the Hollywood movies are constructed from the dramatic rule as directed by Aristotle. However, Although Aristotle’s theory still exists in the world of literature and is accredited as part of the western critical tradition, it has aroused of divergent opinions.
Works cited
Eden, Kathy. Poetic and legal fiction in the Aristotelian tradition. Vol. 480. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2014. Print.
Williams, Tennessee. Cat on a hot tin roof. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014. Print.
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