Aristotle’s Theory of Mimesis/ Imitation

Hareshwar Roy,
Aristotle’s Theory of Mimesis/ Imitation

Aristotle (384–322 B.C.) was a towering Greek philosopher. He was a student of Plato and the tutor to Alexander the Great. His most famous contribution to literature is his treatise, Poetics. In this text, he defends the value of art against Plato's criticisms, primarily through his Theory of Mimesis/ Imitation. Mimesis is the original Greek word used by Aristotle in his treatise, Poetics. When scholars translate this Greek term into English, they use the word Imitation.
Aristotle’s theory of mimesis makes it clear that art is a natural way for humans to reflect and understand the world. He considers mimesis not as a simple ‘faking’ or ‘copying’ of reality but as a creative and purposeful re-presentation of human action. In simple terms According to him art is actually a creative tool that helps us see the essence of life more clearly. He is of the view that a poet does not just record what happened (like a historian); instead, a poet represents what might happen according to the laws of probability and necessity. This makes poetry more ‘philosophical’ and ‘universal’ than history.
Aristotle explained that all arts imitate life, but they differ in three ways:
1. The Objects of Imitation: Aristotle strongly stated that mimesis is the ‘imitation of an action’. He believed that art should not just imitate things as they are, but as they could be or ought to be. This allows art to be more ‘philosophical’ than history, because it deals with universal human experiences rather than specific, accidental facts. Artists imitate ‘men in action’. Aristotle suggests there are three ways to represent people:
Better than they are: This is the realm of Tragedy and Epic poetry, where characters are noble and heroic.
Worse than they are: This is the realm of Comedy, where characters are represented as inferior or ridiculous.
As they are: Realistic representations of average human life.
2. The Medium of Imitation: Aristotle defined mimesis by the tools an artist uses to represent reality. Different arts use different ‘tools’ to imitate. Poets and dramatists use rhythm, language and melody. Painters use color and form. Musicians use rhythm and harmony. Dancers use rhythm alone.
3. The Manner (Mode) of Imitation: He also categorized mimesis by how the artist can represent the same object in different ways. In narrative mode the poet tells the story through a narrator (as in Homer’s epics). In dramatic mode the poet disappears and characters act out the events directly on stage (as in tragedy and comedy).
According to Aristotle mimesis has a clear psychological purpose. He believed imitation serves two vital functions:
(i) Instruction: Humans are the most imitative creatures and we learn our first lessons through imitation. From the time we are babies, we learn by copying others.
(ii) Pleasure: We find a natural joy in seeing things accurately represented. We find natural pleasure in recognition. By watching an imitation of suffering, the audience undergoes an emotional release that leaves them feeling balanced and enlightened. In tragedy, the imitation of ‘pity and fear’ leads to Catharsis, a purging of these emotions.
On this issue Plato and Aristotle differ from each other. While Plato viewed mimesis as a deceptive shadow ‘twice removed from the truth’, Aristotle argued it was a natural human instinct that allows us to discover universal truths. An artist doesn't just ‘photocopy’ what they see. Instead, they re-create it. Art is like a blueprint. It shows not just what happened, but what could happen.
Location: B-37, City Homes Colony, Jawahar Nagar Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
Currently Dr. Roy is working as Professor of English at Govt. P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. He is the author of the following books: (1) Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji (2) A Study of M.G. Vassanji 's Novels (3) Varieties of Indianity in the Works of M.G. Vassanji & Rohinton Mistry (4)Diaspora & Indian Diaspora: A Brief Study (5) Short Notes of English Literature - I (6) Short Notes of English Literature - II (7) हमार पहचान ह भोजपुरी - भोजपुरी कविता संकलन (8) हमरा प्यार हो गइल - भोजपुरी गज़ल संकलन (9) भोजपुरी कविताएँ

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