The Poetics of Aristotle Translated and Explained by Lodovico Castelverto

Castelvetro is a good commentator on Aristotle’s poetics. In his treatment of the unity of time, his ideas are more rigid than Aristotle later followed by many neo- classical critics. Aristotle holds that the science, the art and history are not subject of poetry.

But poetry resembles to history since history is divided in to subject matter and words so is with poetry. However history and poetry differ because subject matter of history is worldly events by the rational will of god, where as the subject matter of poetry is imagined by the poet. The subject matter of both disciplines may be same but not identical.

Art and science can not be the subject of poetry because they are reasons bound, whereas poetry is imaginative play and also poetry is intended to delight and recreate. It is for common people to delight and instruct. Castelvetro seems taking about the pleasure as well as mortal insight as essential factors of the poetry. The subject matter of the poetry for Castelvetro should be simple to be understood by the common people. Therefore, arts and sciences can not be the subject matter of poetry because they have been considered and understood by reasons, which is not generally accessible to the common people.

Castelvero agrees with Aristotle that poetry is imitation and imitation is natural to human beings.
For Plato tragedy could injure citizen and debased good customs in them making them vile (wicked) cowardly and sentimental. Quite contrarily Aristotle states firmly that tragedy works in the opposite way. By its example and by its frequent representation it brings spectators from baseness (lower standard) to magnanimity ( generous) from anxiety to security and frank sentimentality to severity. Through tragedy our fearness will cease and become bold and the revolutionary attitude also came to balance. Castelvetro speaks about tragedy on the live of Aristotle.

Aristotle refutes Plato’s statement that tragedy is injurious to people’s health and says that tragedy purges one’s passions and assists him or her to maintain psychological health; it is not madness rather a healing tonic to one’s psychology. Castelvetro rejects Aristotle, who views that the action, which comprises the plot, should be one and concern over one character. Here Castelretro says because of limited time and place, multiple actions are not allowed.