Of all the six constituents of Tragedy, plot, according to Aristotle, holds the first place. Plot in the drama, in the fullest sense, is the artistic equivalent of “action” in real life. Plot is the arrangement of the incident and events that take place in life. It is the kernel of the action the representation of which is the business of the tragedy. According to him, plot is the principle, the soul of tragedy and there cannot be any tragedy without plot.
Aristotle raises the question of magnitude of the plot. It means the size of the plot. According to him, the plot should be of “certain magnitude.” By this expression he wants to say that the plot should be neither two long or too short.” The rule is that the magnitude should be whatever is required for a change to occur from good fortune to bad or from bad fortune to good fortune through a series of incidents that are probable or necessary.
Unraveling of the plot should be done naturally and logically without applying arbitrary devices. In tragedy, poetic justice is not very important according to him. He rules out plots with a double end and the mixture of tragic and comic elements. True that many of his principles are not followed, yet he has land down the foundation of dramatic criticism which will never cease to have influence at all times.
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