Aristotle’s Poetics and his theory about Plots and Shakespearean Plots:

ASSIGNMENT

PAPER-3

Q. Aristotle’s Poetics and his theory about Plots and Shakespearean Plots:

A: According to Aristotle tragedy can be divided into six components or parts. They are:

a)   The spectacle: - Overall visual appearance of stage and actors.

b)  Melody/ Songs: - Chorus was there to add charm and inform about entries of characters and events…

c)   Diction: - Which has to do with the composition of verses, of dialogues.

d)  The characters: - Character shows the moral qualities.

e)   Thoughts: - thoughts show the intellectual qualities.

f)    The Plot (Fable):- The harmonious combination of incidents and action in the story.

Among these components plot is very essential as it collaborates the actions and events which defines the character. The character serves to advance the action of the story. Tragedy is not reflecting the life of a man but the life of a man in action because Aristotle believed that happiness consists in a certain kind of activity rather than in a certain quality of character.

“The way in which the action works itself out, the whole casual chain which leads to the final outcome.”

-      David Daiches

“The harmonious arrangement of incidents”

-      Aristotle

Both the definitions are about the plot. Plot is the soul of the tragedy. The outcome of the tragedy i.e. catharsis depends upon the strong plot construction. Plot means not the incidents itself but the way incidents are presented to the audience. The strongly constructed plot presents the chain of cause-and–effect (actions) in such a way that it leads to the catharsis. There are some criteria which must be followed according to Aristotle.

1.   The plot must be as a ‘whole’ i.e. beginning-middle-end. The play must have strong beginning-middle-end.

The beginning has the start of cause-and-effect chain. In it the emphasize should put on effect, not on the cause.

The middle caused by earlier incidents and itself come the incidents that follow it. It is also calls the climax.

The end should solved or revolve the problem.

Aristotle calls the chain of cause-and-effect, developed from the beginning to the middle the ‘tying up’. In modern terminology it is known as complication.

The end- the chain of cause-and-effect from the middle or climax to the end or resolution is called ‘the unraveling’ by the Aristotle. In modern time it is called ‘dénouement’ (context).

If we see the plot of Oedipus the King we can see that there is the beginning is situated at Thebes and sows that plague is spread in the society. In the middle we come to know that it is just because of Queen marries his own son and in the end the plot revels to the secret that the Oedipus is the son of the Queen of Thebes.

2.   According to Aristotle the plot should not be distributed by other element. The plot must be structure perfect.

It should be flow in a single direction without adding any outer subplots. It should be present as a whole not in parts. The events should be woven so nicely that it gives the feel of oneness, presenting smooth and perfect play.

Any act or subplot should not be presented individually; it should be dependent upon each other.

3.   The play should not be too short to be involved with. It should be qualitative. If the writer lengthens the play than quality of interest must be maintained.

For more acts and incidents, writer should choose the qualitative, universal theme so the viewer or audience can connect themselves with it. A unity in theme should be maintained.

4.   Best plot should have the complexity as it tightens the plot. The chance of sudden enlightenment of the reality (peripeteia) and the turn or sudden change in event (anagnorisis) can only their effect then.

The complexity sudden change enlightenment of reality add charm to the plot and helpful to keep the consistency in the flow of plot.

5.   “Without action there cannot be a tragedy; there may be without character.”

-Aristotle

            He gives importance to the action which articulates the thoughts i.e. plot of the play. Action denotes the idea and theme of the play very clearly. He also believes that character is merely the medium of the action.

6.   He emphasizing action rather than dialogues because he believes that merely speaking of dialogues is not creating the tragedy.

He also emphasizes the peripety and anagnorisis rather than the powerful soliloquies and reading. And that only can be express through the action and character.

7.   The Character is not the destiny. The character is doomed before the birth.

The destiny itself plays the character. Character is merely the medium to express. According to fate the character should behave or live life.

8.   The good plot is important. Without it everything is useless. Action dominates the character without it drama cannot be the drama itself.

Shakespearean Plot:-

A Shakespearean tragedy can be divided into six distinct structural elements.

1.   Exposition

2.   Existing Force

3.   Rising Action

4.   Climax

5.   Falling Action

6.   Conclusion

The Shakespearean play shows a close-inwoven texture of personal thinking with some objective and pre-existent story. Philosophy is entwined with action and event.

1.   Exposition:-

Generally Act-1 is introductory act which shows the exposition. All the main characters are introduced.

The play also begins the primary action, which involves the audience and connects the audience with play.

2.   Existing Force:-

In this stage, play starts to develop the circumstances. Characters are starting to present themselves more openly. Hence the audience is introduced the real character and natures of the characters.

3.   Rising action:-

The word itself suggest that it is the play’s part which drawn the plot to the climax. The circumstances are woven in such a way that it shows actions related to the chief conspiracy.

4.   Climax:-

A breathe taking moment for the audience is here. The play is at the pick. The circumstances are about to unlock the secret, the fate of the leading character face the reality.

5.   Falling Action:-

The leading character has already come to know what the matter is. He informed about where he is mistaken. His suffering, grief and salvation can be expressed here... The catharsis is done here.

6.   Conclusion:-

In conclusion everything is getting normal except the victim of the fate or circumstances. It restores the standards and moral values.  But for that character pays the high cost.

The characters in Shakespearean pays are presenting action, moment and purpose in such a way than it keeps the attention and interest of the audience continuously through the play. But none can realize the irrelevancy of the p [lot. And Shakespeare has somehow stood alone as a solitary figure of irrelevant magnitude.

 Let’s co-relate the plot structure with the Hamlet’s plot. Hamlet is five acts play. In each act we can see the typical Shakespearean plot construction.

In the first act of Hamlet; audience we came to know about King Hamlet’s death through the ghost of King Hamlet. The protagonist – Hamlet: Prince of Denmark is also introduced. Other characters like Queen Gertrude, Horasio, and the platform for upcoming circumstances are in it. We can call it EXPOSITION.

Hamlet’s grief is shown. His soliloquies and the marriage of Claudius and Queen Gertrude prepare the platform for upcoming circumstances. The anger of Hamlet towards Gertrude because of her adultery is shown.The famous sentence ‘frailty thy name is woman’ is spoken here. He also take the pledge to take revenge after knowing that his father was murdered before the Ghost of King Hamlet. This situation shows the style of Shakespeare for tragedy that one sad scene followed by one happy scene.

In the second act the action related to the chief issue is taken place. Hamlet’s anger, Hamlets and Ophelia’s relationship are shown here. Ophelia’s father tries to convince Gertrude and Claudius that Hamlet behaves like mad person because he is in love with Ophelia. Hamlet came to know that Ophelia is puppet of his father’s hand.  Nunnery scene is take place. Polonius’ son Laertes went to France to serve the King over there.

 Hamlet presents himself as melancholic character. Audience came to know about the Gertrude and Claudius’ relationship and also about the meanness of Claudius for the throne of Denmark. We are also introduced the King Fourteenbrass.

In the third act play is at its CLIMAX. The play within play can be seen in this act. Hamlet arranges the play to confirm the fault of the Claudius. He asks to play the method of his father’s murder as the part of the theme of the play.  Watching this lay, Claudius come to know that Hamlet knows about his crime and to hide his facial expression and to repent his sin he went from the site. This confirms the Hamlet’s doubt. Here the famous conflict of Hamlet’s mind is Shown: ‘to be or not to be’ when he has the chance to kill his father’s murderer-Claudius. But at that time Claudius was repenting to God for his sin and thoughtful Hamlet could not kill him.

Hamlet spoke with his mother Gertrude about his anger towards her. Feeling some suspicious behind the curtain he just stab the sword and by mistake, he killed the Polonius. This makes Claudius more alert. Claudius sent Hamlet to England with the summons to kill Hamlet as soon as possible.

In Forth act Ophelia become mad and commits suicide. Hamlet comes back as he was attacked by some pirates on the way to England. Knowing that Polonious was killed by Hamlet, Laertes came back to Denmark.  He wants to take revenge so he conspires with Claudius. He becomes the means for Claudius. They plan to defeat Hamlet in sword fight. Thus with the King Claudius he conspire the duel between him and Hamlet.

Meanwhile Hamlet also come to know why he was sent to England. And he gave his letter to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and sent them to England.

In the fifth act the duel has taken place. Laertes stabbed Hamlet with poisonous sword. But before it Hamlet kills the Claudius. Claudius always has the backup plan. If Hamlet would win, he made him drink the poisonous drink. Hare the twist is caused. Gertrude died as she drink the poisonous drink.

The plot unknots itself here. The dénouement is takes place. Final tragedy happened. Fourteenbrass takes over the charge. The curtain unfolds.

Aristotelian theory of plot construction is of the beginning of literature, while Shakespeare was the dramatist of Elizabethan age. So the characteristics of the era reflected in the dramas. In old Greek plays there is simplicity in it. In Shakespearean plays we can see the complexity. Same way in there is the three dimensional unity of place time and action was there. The playwrights liked to follow it firmly. Aristotle himself favors it.

 Let’s compares the characteristics of plot of both: Aristotle and Shakespeare.

In Greek tragedy there is not any supernatural element appeared. They believed that it should not be there. It should not be presented on the stage. They made their play simple. In Shakespearean plays especially in tragedies the supernatural elements were presented. It also performed on the stage. It shows the renaissance spirit or the spirit of the era that enjoys the supernatural elements.

 In Hamlet also we can see this element. It arouses the feeling of mystery among the audiences. It brings the feeling that there is some element above nature works in the universe. The element rules over the human life and it is able to destroy his ambition, dreams and motifs.

The conflict was not seen in Aristotelian plot, it was there in Shakespearean plot. It shows the conflict lies in the mind of the characters.  It is the essence of the Shakespearean tragedies. It can be either i) outward or ii) inward. In Hamlet the outward conflict takes place between Hamlet and Claudius. The inner conflict takes place in the mind of Hamlet. We are confronted with it through the soliloquies.

Aristotle gave the importance to the action rather than dialogues. In Oedipus the king we can see the action. Through action only the catharsis and feeling of pity and fear aroused.  The mistake of the hero is shown through the misfortune or course of plague. In Hamlet the inner conflict is there in place of mistake. The delay in the revenge cause the death of hero. That conflict is shown with the help of soliloquies. This differs the plot of Shakespearean drama.

Aristotle gave importance to the fate rather than the characters. Means whatever happen to the hero is due to fate. He was doomed by the fate before his birth. Heroic quality is maintained here. We feel pity and sympathy for hero’s sufferings. The Shakespeare's play shows a close inter-woven texture of personal thinking with some objective and pre-existence story. Philosophy is entwined with action and event. Shakespeare’s  philosophy is infinitely variable, not static.

 The tragic heroes of Shakespearean tragedy are built on grand scale. The greatness of a hero in Shakespearean tragedy has two results; i) since the hero is represented as noble and morality great, the effect of the tragedy is never depressing. Or ii) such greatness perishing and getting destroyed fills us with the sense of waste. In Hamlet we can feel both the aspects of the character.

“ A change from ignorance to knowledge” says Aristotle. The sentence is referring the peripeteia and analogy. In Greek plays the character is the same till the end. He is just unaware of the truth.  In Shakespearean tragedy character transform himself during the play. In Hamlet also there is a transformation. In the beginning he is in the state of depression. But through Ophellia’s mouth we have come to know that he had been ideal Renaissance prince-soldier, scholar, courtier etc. And afterwards we can sense his qualities during his converse with Horatio. Thus tragedy helps to understand the very nature of human being. Shakespeare and Greek are successfully done that but in the different way.

Aristotle firmly believed that there should not be any need of any subplot or outward story.  In Oedipus the King we can see the smooth flow of the play. It has not any irrelevancy in it. We can see it as whole.

In Hamlet there is subplot of Polonius- Ophelia and Laertes. Also has the irrelevant scene. As if something is incomplete. The scene when pirates attacked the ship of the Hamlet audience can’t connect it relevantly.

Aristotle put stress on the flow of the play. It should be smooth and interesting. While in Hamlet the flow‘s smoothness and speed is not maintained.

The middle action of Hamlet starts with long scene of Ordinary conversation. The player’s speech whips up the action for a while then falls back. Hamlet’s addresses to the players working up shortly to the scene, from now the speed increases rapidly. But after killing th Polonious Hamlet is now limp. It is his bolt shot, the Queen too; the whole action is limp. The scene drags on like a wounded snake, with repetitions: an intentional climax. It is Shakespeare’s art to create the rising action followed by fall. After a fall there is continuation: he never cuts off his action as precipice.

At the end we can say that the plot is somehow different from the Aristotelian criteria for plot (specially for tragedy) though it reaches the height in the literature where it create a permanent mark and honestly be the Shakespearean tragedy.