Today’s literary concept is: Catharsis.

Its the week's end, we seek relaxation, escape, release, and temporary relief from the pressures of the week.

And also want emotional release beyond physical rest.

Some find it in sleep, music, films, conversation, books, hangouts or solitude. While me, I find it in coming online to change your outdated mindset about Literature 🙂

This psychological phenomenon has long been studied, and it is called Catharsis in literary criticism.

Coined by Aristotle, catharsis means releasing built-up emotion, usually through experiencing something intense. 

The relief you have after sleepless nights when exams are over.

When you finish a brutal workout, or finally cry after holding it in for a long time, and there’s that sudden feeling of lightness. 

That’s catharsis.

It can also be the emotional release experienced by an audience after engaging with tragic literature.

Modern therapy also uses this idea when dealing with expressing repressed anger, grief, or trauma to lessen depression. 

Talking it out, writing, screaming into a pillow.. or anything that works for release.

At times, we finish a tragic novel, watch an emotionally intense film, or listen to deeply moving music and feel lighter afterward.

The experience may be stressful during the process, but it somehow calms you down later.

That is catharsis.

When the mind seeks stories that help it process emotions it struggles to articulate on its own.

Art gives structured release to unstructured emotions.

Princess Ella ⚜️