The Greek Tragedians

Khiem, Santos, David, Sydney & Judit

Overview● Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides Background/

Significance● Sophocles’ religious beliefs and influence in

Antigone● Social Connections to Antigone● Cultural Connections to Antigone● Interesting Aspects of Technique● Class Discussion Questions

Aeschylus Background

● Born 524 BCE● Died 456 BCEThe first of the three Greek tragedians

Aeschylus Background

● Born into wealthy family● Education included studying writings of Homer, his

inspiration to start writing● Won annual writing competition 13 times. Was only beat

by Sophocles● Once became a soldier, and helped in the turning of the

Persian Invasion, but wasn’t as important as his writings

Aeschylus Significance to Greek Tragedy● Known for: writing Greek tragedies implying the

relationships between mortal man and the gods● Relationship: The gods were all around the people and

watched over them.

Aeschylus Significance to Greek Tragedy● Introduced the second character (Sophocles introduced the third character). Before the second character, an actor would have a continuous soliloquies with a chorus● Added more Greek culture into the drama theatre, as

well as costumes and dance

Sophocles Background

● Born: 495 B.C.● Died: 406 B.C.● Born into a wealthy family● Studied all of the arts ● 2nd of the 3 Greek Tragedians

Sophocles Background cont...

● At age 16 was chosen as leader of a boys choir

● 12 years later completed all of his studies ● Competed in the Dionysia● Won 18 1st places● Even defeated Aeschylus

Sophocles Background cont...

● Performed in many of his own plays

● Served as an ordained priest ○ local heros Alcon and Asclepius the god

of medicine ● Served in the board of generals

Sophocles’s Religious Beliefs

● Sophocles, along with most men, believed that the government was directed by the gods.

● If the people disobeyed fundamental truths, they would result in a great tragedy.

Sophocles’ Significance to Greek Tragedy● 1st to add a 3rd actor

(reduced role of chorus)● Added scenery ● Developed the dialogue ● Abolished the trilogic form

○ made each tragedy its own

Euripides Background

● Born: 480 B.C.● Died: 406 B.C.● Last of the three Greek tragedians

Euripides Background

● Wrote tragedies in the Cave of Euripides, which served as his sanctuary

● Competed for the first time in Dionysia in 455 BCE, came in third place

● Only won first prize four times throughout his lifetime, and once after his death

● Plays were seen as controversial and did not follow tradition

Euripides’ Significance to Greek Tragedy● Heightened the importance of intrigue in

tragedy● Incorporated aspects of comedy● First to introduce women in a realistic

manner, not as heroines● Influenced strongly by Socrates, making his

tragedies more philosophical

Euripides’ Significance to Greek Tragedy ● Known for reconstructing traditional structure

of Greek tragedy● Used strong female roles and intelligent

slaves● Satirized many heroes from Greek

mythology

Religious Influence in Antigone

● At the time, religion was more looked into than science

● Freedom of religion was exercised in city-states

● Gods are to be respected over mortal men● In Antigone, characters have controversial

views on Greek ideals (Creon and Antigone).● We will go more in depth in a few minutes

Present Social Connections to Antigone● Gender roles, discrimination of women and

more power in the man● Importance of family● Democratic government, no anarchy● Money is power

Present Cultural Connections to Antigone

● Cultural connection to Catholics and Christians● In similarity with Antigone being imprisoned in the

tomb, Jesus’ resurrected from dead in tomb ● Antigone wanted to sacrifice for a greater cause,

wanted to prove her loyalty to gods and defy Creon’s laws

Interesting Aspects of Technique (w quotes)● Setting: Disaster-prone

city known as Thebes, place where Oedipus the King took place

● Three Act Plot Analysis● Chorus-helps to better

inform the audience

Easy/ Difficult to Understand● Easy - Sophocles was a follower of the common

Athenian religion, that god’s power was greater than man’s powerDifficult - he believed in the power of man (contradict each other)

● Easy - the relationship between individuals’ actions and their fate (tension)Difficult - why characters commit bad actions when Sophocles believed people are responsible for their actions.

Class Discussion

Question 1: Discuss how Antigone parallels to the tragedy of Oedipus. Find quotes to support your answer.

Possible Answers● Creon’s pride and stubbornness parallel to Oedipus. “No, I am

certain no human has the power to pollute the gods” (2098).● The deaths of family members occur from the wrongdoings of

Creon. “First she cried in agony… in the end she cursed you for the evil you had done” (2104).

● Like Oedipus, Creon searches for the truth; he remains blind to the truth. “Then realize you are on the razor edge of danger” (2097).

● The fate that is imposed by gods cannot be escaped. “Pray for no more at all. For what is destined for us, mortal men, there is no escape” (2104).

Question 2

How can Sophocles’ religious views be seen throughout Antigone? Give quotes to support your answer.

Answers● Antigone believes in the Athenian religion, the laws of the

gods should be respected over the laws of men. “You, if you like, can cast dishonor on what the gods have honored” (2076).

● In Athens, the gods provide the people with safety and wealth. “If he honors the laws of earth, and the justice of the gods he has confirmed by oath, high is his city” (2083).

● Teiresias finally persuades Creon to give up his stubborn and tyrannical nature to adapt to the gods’ will. “I am afraid it may be best, in the end of life, to have kept the old accepted laws(of the gods)” (2100).

Question 3

How can the influences of Euripides & Aeschylus be seen Antigone? Cite specific examples.

Answers● Euripides’s realism was contributed into Antigone when

Ismene is worried about the danger of Antigone disobeying Creon. “Would you bury him, when it is forbidden? I fear for you” (2075). She doesn’t want to be the last of her family.

● More generally, without Aeschylus, there would possibly be only one character in the entire story, along with the chorus.

Question 4

How are two of the six components of tragedy(defined by Aristotle) portrayed throughout this play? (Provide examples from the book)

Answer

Chorus for example in thus play Antigone rather than just serve as an informative it was it's own character in itself which helped with the development of the other characters & understanding of their actions.

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