Humans and Animals Create Catharsis

Do you like going to Sea World? After reading this essay, you might have second thoughts about going to see the amazing orcas. In the tragedy Blackfish, the audience experiences catharsis for the Killer whales and trainers alike because they both experience hardships, which makes the audience desire to help change the lives of these tragic heroes and changes the audience's opinion on Seaworld and other similar industries. Catharsis is the feeling of pity the audience experiences while watching or reading a story. The killer whales suffer starvation, violence and have to watch their babies be taken away from them, while the trainers also suffer in consequence of the whales harsh conditions- the trainers would try and build relationships with the whales and make them comfortable, but because of the whales natural instinct, trainers face death and are also classified as the tragic heroes of Blackfish.

Catharsis doesn’t only have to be felt for humans as you can see in the tragedy Blackfish; the audience experiences pity and fear for Killer whales. These large orcas are one of the tragic heroes in the movie even though they aren’t of highest authority. Without them what would Seaworld be? They suffer through many catastrophes because of there flaw which is the inability to behave well. Some people think that since these whales have killed humans that they aren't exactly heroes but in the play Antigone, Creon was the tragic hero but he killed Haimon and Antigone with his actions and words. Something these people don’t know is how these whales are treated and the consequences there flaw brings forth at places like Seaworld. First they are captured and taken away from their families and the vast water they swim 80 miles a day in. Then,...

... middle of paper ...

...o the public, and abusing animals. Some 9th graders went as far as saying they would never go to Seaworld again. If this doesn’t show a drastic change in mood and behavior than nothing does.

The only question that remains is whether the change experienced by the audience means someone should change the definition of catharsis or not. The all too present catharsis in the movie makes it a horribly tragic documentary, but was it felt only through the human characters? The answer is no, Blackfish shows us that if possessing the qualities of a human, catharsis can be felt through any character despite what the definition of catharsis might say. In this movie it is easy to see that humans and whales suffer alike at the hands of the same foe and it is up to the effectiveness of the film’s use of catharsis to make a change in the world.