Catharsis

**Civic Duty ** It was every citizen’s CIVIC DUTY to attend the festival. It was believed that people became sick because they had “bad emotions” stuck in their bodies and it “poisoned” their blood and made them sick. Citizens had to “purge” these bad emotions like fear, anxiety and anger.

Citizens could safely cleanse or “purge” these bad emotions at a play by feeling sad, angry, etc and letting everything go. Part of their Health Care.

Origin
 Early 19th century (in catharsis): from Greek katharsis, from kathairein cleanse, from katharos pure. The notion of ‘release’ through drama ( catharsis) derives from Aristotle's Poetics.