The Healing Word Between Mimesis and Catharsis: The Real and “Its” Representation

Abstract

The article begins by examining Carlo Diano’s interpretation of Aristotle’s theory of catharsis. According to Diano, the therapeutic dimension of this Aristotelian concept has deep roots in the thought of Hippocrates, with its influence extending as far as the works of Galen. At the core of the cathartic effect lies the idea of presenting representations that anticipate on stage the misfortunes one might encounter in life. In this sense, the mind itself can be conceived as a stage upon which we project situations, problems, and figures, in order to find words and expressions that allow us to share certain contents on a social level. In the second part, these theories are revisited in light of the contributions of Freud, Lacan, and Zupančič, with particular attention to the relationship between trauma, theatre, and memory.