How Does Plato Undermines Your Ability To Control Your Own Emotions
Samatra Gibson
February 28, 2015
ENG2500
World Literature
Professor Binnings
Part I: Do you agree with Plato that having your emotions stirred on behalf of a character in a story undermines your ability to control your own emotions? Why or why not?
Initially I did not agree with Plato when he states that having your emotions stirred on behalf of a character undermines your ability to control your own emotions, after reading and analyzing his reasons for making this assertion I now agree. Plato believes that it is “best to bear misfortune as quietly as possible without resentment (Plato 369)”, emotions should not be openly expressed in public because by doing that we are “”hindering ourselves from the reflection (Plato 369)”, which in turns effects and cloud our reason and judgment.
When it comes to characters in a story, Plato claims that theses stories imitate the worst parts of the soul instead of the best; it is what makes the characters exciting and fun. “There is in you an impulse to play the clown, which you have held in restraint from a reasonable fear of being set down as a buffoon; but now you have given it rein, and by encouraging its impudence at the theatre you may be unconsciously carried away into playing the comedian in your private life (Plato 370)”. The characters nourish passions within …show more content…
Aristotle states that “fiction is imitation of life, and so we learn about life from fiction.” I believe one of our defining characteristics as humans is our ability to empathize; we closely associate people and things with ourselves. Seeing that fiction is an imitation of real life, we often see a bit of ourselves within the characters and connect and relate with them on a level that allows ourselves to experience the journey as they experience it and awaken a new found knowledge within and about ourselves as they also
February 28, 2015
ENG2500
World Literature
Professor Binnings
Part I: Do you agree with Plato that having your emotions stirred on behalf of a character in a story undermines your ability to control your own emotions? Why or why not?
Initially I did not agree with Plato when he states that having your emotions stirred on behalf of a character undermines your ability to control your own emotions, after reading and analyzing his reasons for making this assertion I now agree. Plato believes that it is “best to bear misfortune as quietly as possible without resentment (Plato 369)”, emotions should not be openly expressed in public because by doing that we are “”hindering ourselves from the reflection (Plato 369)”, which in turns effects and cloud our reason and judgment.
When it comes to characters in a story, Plato claims that theses stories imitate the worst parts of the soul instead of the best; it is what makes the characters exciting and fun. “There is in you an impulse to play the clown, which you have held in restraint from a reasonable fear of being set down as a buffoon; but now you have given it rein, and by encouraging its impudence at the theatre you may be unconsciously carried away into playing the comedian in your private life (Plato 370)”. The characters nourish passions within …show more content…
Aristotle states that “fiction is imitation of life, and so we learn about life from fiction.” I believe one of our defining characteristics as humans is our ability to empathize; we closely associate people and things with ourselves. Seeing that fiction is an imitation of real life, we often see a bit of ourselves within the characters and connect and relate with them on a level that allows ourselves to experience the journey as they experience it and awaken a new found knowledge within and about ourselves as they also