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'''Catharsis''', [[Latin ]] from the Greek '''Katharsis''' 'purification', is a sudden [[emotion]]al breakdown or climax that constitutes overwhelming [[feelings ]] of great pity, sorrow, [[laughter]], or any extreme [[change ]] in emotion that results in the renewal, restoration and revitalization for [[living]].

'''Catharsis''' is a [[form ]] of [[emotion]]al cleansing first defined by the [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] philosopher [[Aristotlephilosopher]]. It refers to the sensation, or literary effect, that would ideally overcome an audience upon finishing watching a [[tragedy]]. The fact that there existed those who could suffer a worse fate than them was to them a relief, and at the end of the play, they felt ''ekstasis'' (literally, astonishment), from which the modern word [[exstasis]] and [[ecstasy]] are derived. While seemingly related to [[schadenfreudeAristotle]], it is not, however, in the sense that the audience is not intentionally led to feel happy in light of others' misfortunes; in an invariant sense, their spirits are refreshed through having greater appreciation for life.

In literary aesthetics catharsis is developed by the conjuction of stereotyped characters and unique or surprising actions. Throughout a play we do not expect the nature of a character It refers to change significantly, rather pre-existing elements are revealed in a relatively straight-forward way as the character is confronted with unique actions in time. This can be clearly seen in [[Oedipus Rexsensation]] where King Oedipus is confronted with ever more outrageous actions until emptying generated by the death of his mother-wife and his act of self-blinding. As a literary effect, catharsis should be compared with the equivalent effects for epic and poetic forms of or [[kairosisliterary]] and effect, that would ideally overcome an audience upon finishing watching a [[kenosistragedy]].

The fact that there existed those who could suffer a worse fate than [[them]] was to them a relief, and at the end of the play, they felt ''ekstasis'' (literally, astonishment), from which the modern [[word]] [[exstasis]] and [[ecstasy]] are derived.  While seemingly related to [[schadenfreude]], it is not, however, in the [[sense]] that the audience is not intentionally led to feel happy in light of [[others]]' misfortunes; in an invariant sense, their spirits are refreshed through having greater appreciation for [[life]]. In literary aesthetics catharsis is developed by the conjuction of stereotyped characters and unique or surprising actions.  Throughout a play we do not expect the [[nature]] of a [[character]] to change significantly, rather pre-existing elements are revealed in a relatively straight-forward way as the character is confronted with unique actions in [[time]].  This can be clearly seen in [[Oedipus Rex]] where King [[Oedipus]] is confronted with ever more outrageous actions until emptying generated by the [[death]] of his [[mother]]-wife and his act of [[self]]-blinding.  As a literary effect, catharsis should be compared with the equivalent effects for epic and poetic forms of [[kairosis]] and [[kenosis]].  In contemporary [[aesthetics]] catharsis may also refer to any emptying of emotion experienced by an audience in relation to drama.  This exstasis can be perceived in [[comedy]], melodrama and most [[other ]] dramatic forms. Deliberate attempts, on [[political ]] or aesthetic bases, to subvert the [[structure ]] of catharsis in theatre have occurred.  For example, [[Bertold Brecht]] viewed catharsis as a pap for the bourgeois theatre audience, and designed dramas which [[left ]] significant emotions unresolved, as a way to force [[social ]] [[action ]] upon the audience.  In [[Brecht]]'s [[theory]], the [[absence ]] of a cathartic resolving action would require the audience to take political action in the [[real ]] [[world ]] in [[order ]] to fill the emotional gap they [[experience]].  This [[technique ]] can be seen as early as his agit-prop play ''The measures taken''.

The term ''catharsis'' has been adopted by modern [[psychotherapy]] to describe [[The Act|the act ]] of expressing deep emotions often associated with events in the [[individual]]'s [[past ]] which have never before been adequately expressed.

The term ''catharsis'' has been used for centuries as a medical term [[meaning ]] a "purging." Most commonly in a medical context, it [[euphemism|euphemistically]] refers to a purging of the [[bowel]]s. A drug, herb, or other [[agent ]] administered as a strong [[laxative]] is termed a ''cathartic''.

[[Another ]] meaning under the heading of 'purging' can concern [[body ]] and soul : in [[religion]], it concerns efforts made to come to [[terms ]] with [[guilt ]] and sin, as by [[penance]] such as by chastisement (in modern use of that word, the meaning of [[punishment ]] has taken over from the original sense of purification), such as practiced by [[flagellant]]s; a testimony to the age of this use is the very [[name ]] of the [[Cathars]] (a medieval sect).

In early cults, the [[distinction ]] between sacred and unclean is far from [[complete ]] or well defined (see [[Taboo]]); consequently we find two types of cathartic sacrifice: one to cleanse of impurity and make fit for common use, another to rid of sanctity and in like manner render suitable for [[human ]] use or intercourse. * The most conspicuous example of the first [[class]] is the [[scapegoat]]. Two goats were provided by the ancient Hebrews on the Day of Atonement; the high priest sent one into the desert, after confessing on it the sins of [[Israel]]; it was not permitted to run free but was probably cast over a precipice; the other was sacrificed as a sin-offering. In like manner in the purification of lepers two birds were used; the throat of one was cut, the living bird dipped in the blood mingled with water and the leper sprinkled; then the bird was set free to carry away the leprosy. In both these rites we seem to have a duplication of [[ritual]], and the parallelism of sacrifice and liberation is clear. * As an example of the second class may be taken the sacrifice of the bull to Rudra. MM. Hubert and [[Mauss]] [[interpret]] this to mean that the sanctity of the [[remainder]] of the herd was concentrated on a single [[animal]]; the god, incarnate in the herd, was eliminated by the sacrifice, and the cattle saved from the dangers to which their [[association]] with the god exposed them. In the Feast of Firstfruits we have another example of the same sort; comparable with this concentration of holiness is the respect or veneration shown to a single animal as [[representative]] of its [[species]] (see ANIMAL WORSHIP). In both these cases the [[object]] of the [[rite]] is the elimination of impurity or of a source of [[danger]]. But the Nazarite was equally bound to lay aside his holiness before mixing with common folk and returning to ordinary life; this he did by a sacrifice, which, with the offering of his hair upon the altar, freed him from his vow and reduced him to the same level of sanctity as ordinary men. ==More==Catharsis :  [[Discharge]] of [[anxiety]] and tension through emotional vents of [[repressed]] elements [[responsible]] for [[mental]] troubles

* As an example of the second class may be taken the sacrifice of the bull to Rudra. MM. Hubert and Mauss interpret this to mean that the sanctity of the remainder of the herd was concentrated on a single animal; the god, incarnate in the herd, was eliminated by the sacrifice, and the cattle saved from the dangers to which their association with the god exposed them. In the Feast of Firstfruits we have another example of the same sort; comparable with this concentration of holiness is the respect or veneration shown to a single animal as representative of its species (see ANIMAL WORSHIP). In both these cases the object of the rite is the elimination of impurity or of a source of danger. But the Nazarite was equally bound to lay aside his holiness before mixing with common folk and returning to ordinary life; this he did by a sacrifice, which, with the offering of his hair upon the altar, freed him from his vow and reduced him to the same level of sanctity as ordinary menLibération sous forme d’émotions d’une représentation refoulée dans l’[[inconscient]] et responsable de troubles psychiques.