Catharsis can play a role in helping people deal with difficult or painful emotions. This emotional release can also be an important therapeutic tool for coping with fear, depression, and anxiety.

Why would an experience of catharsis be important for audiences?

Catharsis in literature works a lot like therapy does in real life: by giving readers the opportunity to experience intense emotions from a distance, it allows them to "let it all out." Cathartic works are especially good at tapping into repressed emotions—that is, emotions that a reader or audience member may not ...

What is the purpose of catharsis in literature?

Essentially, catharsis brings audiences down with tragic endings and then the audience feels that they have been able to release some of their own sadness, anxieties, or fears along with what they felt as a result of the story.