 Tragedy’s hero, inherently impulsive and impassioned, acts contrary to the dictates of reason. An illusion of virtue guides him. His son dies and he doesn’t save his tears for a private moment but lets them flow publicly and at length (603e–604a). The spectators’ reason is appalled; their other impulses rejoice (605c–e). They reckon that there is no harm in weeping along with the hero, enjoying an emotional release without the responsibility one feels in real-life situations. Thus does dramatic illusion induce bad habits of indulging the passions; the soul that had spent its life learning self-control sets about unlearning it.