2:

A more or less coherent series of thoughts on K.

You know, the aim of ancient theatre was to purify human’s souls through making them co-suffer with the characters (they were also called masks). And as they lived through it as a part of it and at the same time as a subjective (because it’s inevitable) passive observer, they experienced this catharsis. They used to let the sorrow (in this epic sense) soak them head over heels - just like when you are in love head over heels.

Catharsis is based on the sense of compassion which is now a bit lost, I think. As K. says spectators shout “help yourself and you’ll be helped by heaven.” Now we don’t seek compassion – for we simply see guilt. The guilt is not ours, so we feel unattached to what’s on stage. It bothers us but at the same time it doesn’t bother us more than it bothers us.

Before, they used to have tragedy accompanied by a funny short performance right afterwards – to relieve spectators, because they have lived through the tragedy together with the characters. These days it’s not done this way almost anywhere, as far as I know – simply because there is no need to. Now it’s the aesthetics of ‘tragedy’ that is followed not the inner side of it, not even speaking about its ethics (whether we should speak about the latter here or not – is a question too). It’s the surface in a way.

But, personally, I still find deep satisfaction in it. If a drama on stage convinced me (or better say if I let it convince me) I brings tear to eyes. And this slight feeling of catharsis.