It is a common reflex to reach for Aristotle’s Poetics to determine what a good tragedy should be. Aristotle says there are good reasons to enjoy a good tragedy, especially if its ergon or telos (its ...
Editors’ note: This essay is adapted from Leisure with Dignity: Essays in celebration of Charles R. Kesler, edited by Glenn Ellmers and Michael Anton, published by Encounter Books in 2024.