Hegels Theory of Tragedy - OpenSIUC精编.pdfVIP

HEGELS THEORY OF TRAGEDY BV SALVATORE RUSSO HEGELS theory of tragedy, like that of Aristotle, is an integral part of his whole philosophy. Aristotles idea of katharsis. for example, is characteristic of his philosophy of art : art imitates nature both in its purpose and in its method, continuing where nature leaves off. Hegels theory of tragedy is even more closely integrated with the entire structure and nature of his thought ; it is so basic a part of his swstem that it is found scattered through- out his works rather than contained in a single volume. The essence of tragedy consists of a diremption of the Spirit arising from the second stage or moment of the dialectical process. Our purpose is to examine the validity of this ethical division as the substance of tragedy, a task which can be accomplished only after we have sketched the theory in its contextual setting. Tragedy is not a phenomenon peculiar to literature ; its counter- part is found in metaphysics, religion, and in daily life as well, for every phase of reality reveals the dialectic at work. lUit whatever may be the context, the nature of tragedy is always the same. In life, as in literature, tragedy signifies that the Spirit is divided, that it is suftering from an inner dissonance due to the contiict of imiversal and particular. This tragic conflict always ensues when an individual part negates a universal. Self-alienated by the neces- . sity of its own nature, this particular spirit becomes too assertive and feels the overpowering force of the universal. Thus human sorrow reaches its greatest depth when the opposition between the particular and uni\ersal makes itself felt. A tragic character, accordingl\-, is one estranged from his com- plete self, one who feels the pangs of isola