Objective Correlative

Objective Correlative 

Objective correlative was e term used by T.S Eliot in his essay 'Hamlet and his problems ' ,and published in 'The Sacred Wood(1920)

The Objective Correlative is that formula for creating a specific emotional reaction merely by the presence of certain words, objects, or items juxtaposed with eachother.

$ According to Eliot,the only way of expressing emotion in the form of art is by finding an Objective Correlative.

$ Objective correlative can be
    
    A set of objects
    A set of situations
   A chain of events that are used to evoke a particular emotion.

A-- Objective Correlative in a horror story.

  Cracking of door, sound of thunder, owl's screeching, dog's barking.

B- Objective Correlative in a romantic story

Roses, poetry, romantic music etc.

$ T S Eliot says that sleepwalking scene of Lady Macbeth was a perfect Objective Correlative because readers can easily understand the state of mind of lady Macbeth through that scene.

According to Eliot , Hamlet was a failure because Shakespeare was unable to find an objective correlative to express Hamlet 's state of mind.

            " Hamlet was dominated by an emotion which is in expressible,and hence the play is an Artistic Failure. "
      

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