Since ages it is believed that art arouses our sentiments and serves as a crippling drain to our moral energies. According to Plato, poetry instigates our emotions. Tolstoy believes the more passion an art arises, the more remarkable it is. But these theories are not correct because creativity is expressed in a passionate state of mind and not a tranquil state of mind. So though the passion is apparent in art we see, it does not necessarily arouse same degree of passion in ourselves. Shakespeare’s words concede to this concept. In words of Hamlet, the purpose of a play is to reflect the nature of virtues and vices of emotions. We just observe the characters and absorb ourselves into their nature. But we are not infected by varying emotions of the different characters of Shakespearean plays.

Comments, anyone?