Study of Sublimation in Tragic Drama

Abstract

Tragedy, as an important category of drama, has been a hot topic in literature and theater since ancient times. Taking the tragedy theories of Aristotle, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Sigmund Freud and other Western scholars as a guide and Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera as the main examples, this paper studies the aesthetic sublimation of tragedy. It is found that the elements of music, story, dramatic poetry, dance and performance integrated in a tragic musical can form the grandeur and magnificence of tragedy. The audience gain a sense of beauty and pain, and pleasure and sublimity from the tragic heroes. Tragedy prompts the awakening of human consciousness and the liberation of individuality, calling for social morality, civilization and progress.