Q.1:
How far do you agree with Plato’s objection to freedom of expression and artistic liberty enjoyed by creative writers? Name the texts (novels, plays, poems, movies, TV soaps etc. which can be rightfully objected and banned with reference to Plato’s objections)
A.1:
It seems as what Plato is saying ‘Perhaps, It might be true'. As he says in his book “Republic”.
•All arts are imitative and mimetic in nature:
It may be agreeable in some context, that the poets are copying original one and framing it as per their artistic liberty. But is it harmful for the readers, who read, see, watch or visualise it? So mine answer should be, “yes”. If the art is depicted in negative manner then only it can reflect on readers mind negatively or also the reader's perception of looking on anything matters. [i.e. practically if we look into this issue, we may see that If a girl and boy are eloped from their home, as nowadays It is a trend, changing their places and playing various roles to hide themselves. Those who facilitate this Idea would support them and those who detest(who we may say, are mature and know that morally it isn't good) would oppose this idea] similarly we see in movies, plays, vivid advertisement, those who favour would accept and those who don't would revolt against it. So only the perception differs.
Moreover, since long we observe that various mythical fable stories are created, which by referring or watching, at the end give moral lessons. Isn't it contradictory, story based on fantasy but giving moral lessons..? In many English institutions these stories are the base to enhance the student's ability to think morally, solely to refrain them from committing such misdeeds.
If the poet is depicting something, It cannot be considered as unintelligible, deeply Its roots are dispersed somewhere(which is allegorized, It will come out when illuminated by the reader and some poetries simply conveys the meaning).
So as Plato said, “poetry as fostering evil habits and vices in children”, It may be considered as true but not in some context.
•The imitator or maker of the image know nothing of true existence.
Let us agree with him. But what about the predictions, which are made by scientists, physicists, astronomer. They predict after examining the present state, to make people appraise that in advancing days, some unpleasant or weird things are going to happen, so people should refrain, If they are wrongdoers of anything and If they won't rectify themselves, as they shows (in what if videos, those are predicting our universe, Earth and Environment) would transform everything in annihilation.
So first poets or any writer, study the present state, and on its base, endeavour to make people appraise.
Fantasy as well as morality, both are interwoven with each other and both should be balanced to equilibrium human beings lives and also It would compulsively have impact on our ecology, which retain us.
Q.2:
With reference to the literary texts you have studied during B.A. programme, write brief note on the texts which followed Aristotelian literary tradition (i.e. his concept of tragedy, catharsis, tragic hero with hamartia etc.)
A.2:
There are few literary works, which comprise Aristotelian literary tradition.
•
Yussouf (James Russell Lowell)
•
All My Sons (Arthur Miller)
•
Othello (Shakespeare)
•
Heart Of Darkness (Joseph Conrad)
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Ghashiram Kotwal (Vijay Tendulkar)
•
Tughlaq (Girish Karnad)
1.
We will discuss in detail “Heart Of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad to see entire Aristotelian literary tradition features.
In this novel “Marlow and Kurtz" both can be considered as protagonist. But Marlow plays a role of puller to drag Kurtz away from the bog. While Kurtz is hurled into it by his intended parents, to earn money at any cost and he indulges in ivory trade.
•Kurtz indulges in ivory business [Hamartia(loosen his moral sense)]
•The ambition of being honourable and powerful (Hubris)
•At last, when Kurtz is dead. Emotions of Marlow for his friend, sees himself in kurtz in some context and feels sorry for it(Catharsis).
Thus is the enunciation of Aristotelian literary tradition, followed in few works, during our B.A. programme.
Q.3:
With reference to the literary texts you have studies during B.A. programme, write brief note on the texts which did NOT follow Aristotelian literary tradition. (i.e. his concept of tragedy, catharsis, tragic hero with hamartia etc.)
A.3:
We had a few literary works, which didn't follow “Aristotelian literary tradition", those are mentioned below.
•Far From The Madding Crowd (Thomas Hardy)
•The Namesake (Jhumpa Lahiri)
•Mobydick (Herman Melville) from Ahab's perspective, it can be seen but not from Mobydick's.
•The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll and Mr.Hyde(R.L.Stevenson)
Hubris effect can be seen but not the rest.
Thus are the works, uninclusive of Aristotelian literary tradition.
Q.4:
Have you studied any tragedies during B.A. programme? Who was/were the tragic protagonist/s in those tragedies? What was their ‘hamartia’?
A.4:
Having studied a few tragedies, during my B.A programme, the literary texts which consists tragic hero and Hamartia effect are mentioned below.
•Ahab (Mad to kill the natural creature)
•Othello (placed trust on Iago)
•Joe Keller (Installation of faulty parts in Aircraft)
•Ghashiram Kotwal (overambitious for power)
Thus are the tragic heroes with Hamartia, whom we studied, during our B.A. programme.
Q.5:
Did the ‘Plot’ of those tragedies follow necessary rules and regulations proposed by Aristotle? (Like chain of cause and effect, principle of probability and necessity, harmonious arrangement of incidents, complete, certain magnitude, unity of action etc.)
A.5
To illustrate rules and regulations proposed by Aristotle, we must focus on "Othello" by William Shakespeare.
Which perhaps comprises all rules and regulations proposed by Aristotle.
Note: This last question needs to be enunciate in detail, by implicating a tragedy as an illustration.
