From “Antigone” to “Old Yeller” to that one episode of “The Last of Us” (you know the one we’re talking about), creators and performers have been trying to make viewers cry with desperately sad stories. This type of emotional release, or catharsis, can be both profound and powerful—here’s how.
Originating from the Greek work “kathairein” (meaning to cleanse or to purge), catharsis is the act of working through and releasing strong, pent-up emotions. Catharsis is an inherent feature of the human experience, as well as an integral part of the dramatic experience.
In “Poetics,” Aristotle describes catharsis as a sublime moment for an audience, during which laughing or crying along with a play’s characters and empathizing with their plight leads to catharsis. Nowadays, we tend to think of catharsis more as it relates to characters and their emotions, but the idea is still the same: A character’s emotional release will make the audience feel something.
Characteristics of catharsis
If you’re wondering whether a particular moment in art or literature is an example of catharsis, remember that it usually:
- Occurs at a boiling point in a character’s arc, when emotions have become so high that they have no choice but to release them, quickly and intensely
- Is attributed to protagonists or other “likeable” characters, in hopes that the character’s emotional breakthrough will create an emotional response in the audience as well
- Involves big emotions, usually negative or painful (grief, loss, disappointment)—but it can also come from more positive emotions such as relief, love, and ecstasy
Reader, beware! As noted above, catharsis involves major emotions, which usually equate to major plot-points—so, spoilers ahead.
1. “The Crucible” (1953 play by Arthur Miller, 1996 film directed by Nicholas Hytner)
Those of us whose first introduction to Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” was in English class, having it deadpanned by a group of reluctant teenage boys, may have missed one of the greatest moments of catharsis written for the stage in the last 100 years. At the end of the play’s final act, the accused John Proctor is essentially given a get-out-of-jail-free card: If he signs a written confession to witchcraft and lets it be publicly posted, he can avoid being hanged. Ultimately, Proctor (played by Daniel Day-Lewis in the film) finds he cannot do it, launching into a cathartic speech about his name being the only thing he has left. At once noble and desperate, Day-Lewis portrays old-school fist-clenching anguish in a way that still feels earned and honest, even in the film’s tight shot.
2. “Downton Abbey” (2010—2015), Season 4, Episode 1
The start of the show’s fourth season focuses on the recently widowed Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery). In true stoic Lady Mary fashion, her grief has left her anything but outwardly emotional, instead making her insular, despondent, and irritable. But after snapping at Butler Carson (Jim Carter) over something trivial, she comes to him to apologize. Ultimately, his forgiving kindness allows her to drop the facade and break down for the first time. It’s a great watch for actors—you can feel the moment Dockery lets Mary’s emotions override her need for composure. It also shows that the biggest payoff in catharsis may come when the character experiencing it seems to be the least likely.
3. “This Is Us” (2016—2022), Season 2, Episode 14
Google Dan Fogelman’s “This Is Us” and you’ll find a slew of articles about it being purposely designed to make you cry. In perhaps its most heart-wrenching moment, Rebecca (Mandy Moore) learns that her husband, Jack (Milo Ventimiglia), has suddenly died, despite only being in the hospital for a burnt arm and smoke inhalation. What Moore does so brilliantly in this scene is that she allows Rebecca’s grief to escalate. While immediately bursting into tears would have been a valid choice, it’s ultimately more engaging and gutting to watch her cycle from disbelief (and shoving a candy bar in her mouth) to agitation, shock, and then eventually the weeping catharsis we might expect.
Looking to nail catharsis in your next big acting role? Here are a few helpful tips and tricks for any aspiring actors hoping to make people feel all the feels.
1. Warm up.
Anyone who’s ever had a really good cry knows it can be incredibly physically taxing. But in real life you are (hopefully!) only having these moments of catharsis a couple times a year, not eight times a week! You should always warm up (physically and vocally) before you step onstage or in front of a camera, but especially if you’re going to attempt something this charged and tense. Emotions, particularly negative ones, can create a lot of physical tension, which may lead to physical or vocal injury if not properly warmed up for.
How to Show Emotion as an Actor2. Go for it.
Catharsis is not subtle (if restraint is involved, then it probably isn’t catharsis). With all those big feelings comes a big emotional response, so don’t hold back. Allow yourself to release your inhibitions and really let those feelings out to their fullest degree. That said, keep it honest. Insincerity or unearned over-the-top-ness is a surefire way to lose the audience and prevent them from going along with you on your character’s emotional journey.
3. Find a safe way in.
Actors are often encouraged to draw from their own life experiences when portraying intense emotions. For some actors, this can be harmless or even potentially helpful (imagine having a real cathartic moment about your recent breakup while portraying big emotions—now that’s multitasking!). But if opening old wounds night after night will do more harm than good, please don’t. Keeping emotions tied solely to the character’s experience isn’t any less legitimate—the audience won’t be able to tell the difference—and the most important thing is that you take care of yourself emotionally so that the show can (literally) go on.
4. Take care of yourself.
Regardless of how you conjure up all that emotion, portraying fervent feelings can be a lot if you’re not careful. Whether it’s envisioning hanging up your character with your costume, a concentrated cooldown, or just chatting with friends, find some way to get out of catharsis and back into your own head.