I was watching/listening to a performance of Britten's War Requiem yesterday evening in Darmstadt and, while watching, I wondered how much of Britten's inspiration to write this piece came from catharsis. The word "catharsis" means cleansing and composing a requiem or writing a novel, a diary or poetry may sometimes be inspired by the need to cleanse the mind of experiences. I understand this to mean that the act of writing is the means by which the writer/composer can make sense of, and resolve, disturbances in his or her inner life.
It is highly likely that much of the literature from WW1 was cathartic - think of Owen's poetry which Britten used with such great effect in his War Requiem. Think also of Robert Graves's novel, Goodbye to All That. Similarly, I think that some of PD James's work was cathartic but this is just an opinion. Many of my own early articles and short stories were inspired by a need to understand the years I spent in Italy. I was back in the UK and trying to get a handle on how these years influenced me.
I have said elsewhere in this blog that writing may sometimes be a way of channelling and focusing thoughts and feelings. Writers take these thoughts and feelings and give them some kind of sense on the page. Writing organises. Writing orders. Writing channels - and can create narrative.
Catharsis in books, films, and plays often accompanies the hero - a man or woman of impeccable character who possess a fatal flaw. Othello, for example, experiences catharsis when he realises that his downfall was due to his own weakness - jealousy. Catharsis works by enabling the reader or the viewer to experience the emotions felt by the character in question. It was used to great effect in the films Love Story and Zeffirelli's 1968 film Romeo and Juliet.
Can any reader of this blog think of any other books or films that use catharsis effectively?
"The glass castle" comes to my mind
Posted by: Kristina | 11/26/2018 at 09:06 PM
Thanks Kristina. I didn't know about this book until now. Thanks for your input. It is much appreciated.
Posted by: Robert Goddard | 11/27/2018 at 08:10 AM