Greek Drama c. 800 B.C. – c. A.D. 200

“Wisdom Begins in Wonder.” Spirit of inquiry; men reflect and give voice to their questions. Hebrews = Religious questions –“What is man? What is man’s relationship with God?” –Greeks: Ethical questions - What are things made up of? What is man's relationship within the world?

The “Ideal” Man - Greeks showed a drive to seek answers to questions and solutions to problems. The ideal - architecture, sculpture, public affairs (the "Ideal Citizen" - sacrifice for the public good.) Virtue and excellence are tied up in the idea of citizenship.

Drama  Originated in religious festivals dedicated to Dionysus. The god of the joyous life, wine and frivolity.  As the ceremonies became more popular, amphitheaters were built to house them. Some held up to 25,000 people. Prizes were awarded to the best playwright.  Plays began as choruses of about fifty men chanting songs of praise.

The Early Playwrights  Thespis - first playwright to have one actor come out and converse with the chorus. Thus actors are called "Thespians."  Aeschylus had two actors speak to each other and the chorus.  Sophocles used more than three actors; thus modern drama was born.

Drama Themes Main questions posed by the playwrights: 1 - Can man exert free will and determine his own actions? 2 - Can the dilemma be solved when the "rights" of two individuals conflict? 3 - What explanation can be given for pain and suffering inflicted on the innocent and just? 4 - What is man's responsibility in accepting a universal moral law?

Tragedy TRAGEDY - Character falls through a character flaw of his/her own but learns from the experience. Not a depressing or despairing experience for the Greek audience. Protagonist suffers, but emphasis is placed on the dignity of man, his ability to follow the dictates of his conscience with integrity, to meet his fate with courage and most important, to learn wisdom through suffering.

Sophocles and Antigone  Performances were done in broad daylight, outdoors in a stage surrounded by half a circle of seats (stadium seating movie theaters)  All male actors, masked and in long robes.  Stiff, stately motions were made. NO bloody or gruesome acts were shown on stage. It was the playwright's job to use words - not actions/motions - to indicate the horrors and feelings of the characters.

Sophocles and Antigone  Chorus = a group of actors who represent the town elders and the conscience of the town. They speak in unison to the characters and the choragos. Sometimes they performed songs or dances between acts.  Choragos = the head of the chorus.  Most Greek plays were based on myths, so the audiences already knew the plot. The element of surprise was removed. The audience was more interested in seeing the character's portrayal of the struggle he/she is going through.

Sophocles and Antigone Sophocles added painted sets to the Greek drama as well as having multiple actors conversing together in a scene.

The Oedipus Cycle Antigone was first performed in 441 B.C. as part of the Oedipus Cycle. It is the last of three plays about Oedipus, king of Thebes. It is important to know the background of Oedipus (Antigone's father) so that you can understand why the family is considered "cursed."

Oedipus Cycle  Laios and Iocaste, King and Queen of Thebes, have a son. In Greek tradition, they bring him to the Oracle at Delphi. The prediction is that the child will grow up to murder his father and marry his mother.  To prevent this, his father leaves him to die on a mountainside.  The baby, Oedipus, is rescued by a shepherd and the child is raised by the King and Queen of Corinth, who do not tell him he is adopted.  When he grows up, he goes to the Oracle and is told the same thing as his birth parents. Not knowing he is adopted, he leaves home to avoid his fate.  On his travels, he meets a stranger, gets into an argument and kills him. He does not know that this man is the king of Thebes, Laios, his biological father.  He arrives at Thebes where there is a curse by the terrible Sphinx. By answering a riddle correctly, he not only raises the curse, but is given the hand of the widowed queen Iocaste, and becomes king. He, therefore, marries his mother and completes the original prophecy. They have four children together - two sons (Eteocles and Polyneices) and two daughters (Antigone and Ismene).

Oedipus Cycle Continued  A plague hits Thebes and Oedipus is told it will not be raised until the killer of King Laios is brought to justice. Oedipus swears to find the man, not realizing it's himself. Ultimately, it is revealed that he is the murderer and that he did in fact kill his father and marry his mother (with the help of Teiresias, the blind prophet).  In horror, Iocaste hangs herself and Oedipus gouges out his own eyes (so he does not have to look at his horrible acts) and has himself led into exile (where he eventually dies). His sons Eteocles and Polyneices make a deal to alternate being king every year. Eteocles goes first, but refuses to give up the throne at the end of the first year because he claims his brother has a bad temper.  Furious, his brother raises an army and attacks his home country of Thebes. Both brothers kill each other in battle. Thebes is victorious.

Oedipus Cycle (Continued)  The play Antigone takes place the day after the battle. Iocaste's brother, Creon, becomes the new king and makes a proclamation that no one is to touch the body of Polyneices, but to leave it on the field for beasts to eat. He considers Polyneices a traitor for attacking his own city. Anyone who buries the body will be put to death. The rule of the gods, however, states that it is the duty of family members to always give their dead a proper burial in order to give the soul rest. Antigone has to decide whether to follow her uncle's law or follow the law of the gods.

Oedipus’ Family Tree Queen Iocaste EteoclesPolyneicesAntigoneIsmene King Laios And Queen Iocaste Oedipus