Reversal, Recognition, and Suffering

Reversal of the Situation is a change by which the action veers round to its opposite, subject always to our rule of probability or necessity. Thus in the Oedipus, the messenger comes to cheer Oedipus and free him from his alarms about his mother, but by revealing who he is, he produces the opposite effect. Again in the Lynceus, Lynceus is being led away to his death, and Danaus goes with him, meaning, to slay him; but the outcome of the preceding incidents is that Danaus is killed and Lynceus saved. Recognition, as the name indicates, is a change from ignorance to knowledge, producing love or hate between the persons destined by the poet for good or bad fortune. The best form of recognition is coincident with a Reversal of the Situation, as in the Oedipus. There are indeed other forms. Even inanimate things of the most trivial kind may in a sense be objects of recognition. Again, we may recognise or discover whether a person has done a thing or not. But the recognition which is most intimately connected with the plot and action is, as we have said, the recognition of persons. This recognition, combined, with Reversal, will produce either pity or fear; and actions producing these effects are those which, by our definition, Tragedy represents. Moreover, it is upon such situations that the issues of good or bad fortune will depend. Recognition, then, being between persons, it may happen that one person only is recognised by the other-when the latter is already known—or it may be necessary that the recognition should be on both sides. Thus Iphigenia is revealed to Orestes by the sending of the letter; but another act of recognition is required to make Orestes known to Iphigenia.

A Reversal of the Situation is a change in which the action turns into its opposite. It must always follow our rule of probability or necessity. For example, in the Oedipus, the messenger comes to cheer Oedipus and ease his fears about his mother. But by revealing who Oedipus is, the messenger produces the opposite effect. Again, in the Lynceus, Lynceus is being led away to his death. Danaus goes with him, intending to kill him. But the earlier events lead instead to Danaus being killed and Lynceus being saved. Recognition, as the name suggests, is a change from ignorance to knowledge. It produces love or hate between people whom the poet has destined for good or bad fortune. The best kind of recognition happens at the same time as a Reversal of the Situation, as in the Oedipus. There are other kinds of recognition too. Even the most trivial inanimate things can, in a sense, be recognized. We may also recognize or discover whether a person has done something. But, as we have said, the recognition most closely connected with the plot and action is the recognition of persons. When recognition of persons is combined with Reversal, it produces either pity or fear. By our definition, Tragedy represents actions that produce these effects. Moreover, the outcome of good or bad fortune depends on such situations. Recognition takes place between persons. Sometimes only one person is recognized by the other, who is already known. In other cases, both must recognize each other. For example, the sending of the letter reveals Iphigenia to Orestes. But another act of recognition is needed to reveal Orestes to Iphigenia.

Two parts, then, of the Plot—Reversal of the Situation and Recognition—turn upon surprises. A third part is the Scene of Suffering. The Scene of Suffering is a destructive or painful action, such as death on the stage, bodily agony, wounds and the like.

Two parts of the plot, Reversal of the Situation and Recognition, depend on surprises. A third part is the Scene of Suffering. A Scene of Suffering is a destructive or painful action, such as death on stage, physical agony, wounds, and the like.