Greek Tragedy

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Greek Tragedy
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Greece
Greece
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Ancient Greek World
Thebes
Delphi the oracle
Corinth
Athens
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Origins of Drama

• The Greeks attended festivals of song, as early
  as 550 B.C.
• The poet, Thespis, introduced an actor into
  festival performances
• Today, actors are often referred to as thespians!
• After Thespis, the playwright, Aeschylus,
  eskelus introduced a 2nd actor and reduced the
  chorus from 50 to 12 people. Thus, reducing the
  importance of the chorus and increasing the
  importance of the actors.
• Later, Sophocles added the 3rd actor and fixed
  the chorus at 15.

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Theatre of Dionysus

• Formal theatre in Athens evolved from festivals
  related to the cult of Dionysus, the Greek god of
  fertility and wine.
• Festivals were Closely associated with religion
  and worshipping gods.
• There were Competitive prizes maybe a goat!

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Sophocles

• One of the greatest playwrights of the golden age
  of Greece

• Born in 495 B.C. about a mile northwest of Athens
• The son of a wealthy merchant, he would enjoy
  all the comforts of a thriving Greek empire.
• He studied all of the arts.
• Performed in his own plays.
• Greatest masterpieces Oedipus and Antigone

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Greek Theater

• Skene Building at rear of stage
• Theatron spectator seating area, divided in
  sections
• Parodos Entrance to the Orchestra
• Proskenion a raised platform in front of the
  skene on which the actors perform.
• Chorus large groups of performers with a
  significant role
• Orchestra Place of the action, the choral
  performances, and the religious rite

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The Greek Chorus

• Began as large as 50, then smaller in size as
  actors become more predominate.
• They provided time for
• scene changes
• introduced background
• Gave summary information.
• Acts as a spectator to the action.
• Asks questions, takes part in the play
• Heightens dramatic effect through movement, song
  and dance
• Rhythmical Function-pauses/paces the action so
  audience can reflect and actors can rest/prepare

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Genre Greek Tragedy

• the word "tragedy" refers primarily to tragic
  drama
• a central character called a tragic protagonist
  or hero suffers some serious misfortune.
• Tragedy stresses the vulnerability of human
  beings whose suffering is brought on by a
  combination of human and divine actions.

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Structure of Greek Drama and Sophocles Plays

• The structure of Greek Drama
• Violence and Death Offstage
• Frequent use of messengers to relate information
• Usually a single place (setting)
• Stories based on myth or history, but varied
  interpretations of both
• Characteristics of a Sophocles play
• Emphasis on individual characters
• Reduced role of the Chorus
• Complex characters, psychological well-motivated
• Characters subjected to crisis which leads to
  suffering and self-recognition
• Common Theme The choices people make and
  consequences

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Oedipus

• The plays opens with Oedipus as King of Thebes.
• How did he become King?
• He arrives at Thebes on his travels. Where did
  he come from?
• More about that later!
• Thebes is suffering from plague and pestilence
  caused by the presence of the Sphinx that wont
  go away until its riddle is solved.
• The riddle
• What walks on 4 legs in the morning? 2 legs at
  noon? And 3 legs in the evening?
• Oedipus solves the riddle.
• The citizens of Thebes adore him- he is a hero.
  
• Queen Jocasta, a little older, marries the hero,
  Oedipus.
• He becomes King!
• They have 4 children 2 boys and 2 girls.

The winged Enchantress A mythical creature
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Oedipus and his DNA

• Laius and Jocasta were King and Queen of the
  great city of Thebes.
• Before Oedipus was even born, his life was
  clouded with the threat of disaster.
• Apollos oracle forecasted that he was one day
  destined to kill his father, and marry his
  mother!
• Years passed, and Laius and Jocasta abstained
  from the marriage bed in fear of the curse.
• Until one night while intoxicated, they abandoned
  caution and made love.
• A son was conceived that night.
• When born, they gave their infant son to a
  servant with orders to be left on a mountainside
  to die.
• The babys ankles were pinned.
• The servant instead gave the baby to a shepherd
  from Corinth, who in turn gave the baby to his
  king, King Polybus who was childless.
• Polybus and his wife Merope raised the child as
  their own.
• Oedipus grows up in Corinth.
• When he was a young man, he attended a party at
  the palace.
• He over hears a drunk servant say that the King
  and Queen are not his real parents.
• Upset, Oedipus confronts his parents and they
  deny this.
• The confused Oedipus leaves Corinth and heads to
  the famous Oracle at Delphi to discover his true
  parentage.
• Before we find out what the Oracle tells him,
  lets examine the famous Oracle at Delphi.

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The Ancient Ruins of the Oracle at Delphi
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The Pythia ( Priestess )
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Consulting the Oracle

• Image on a cup 440-430 BC
• Housed in the Berlin Museum ( Germany )
• Aegeus, a mythical king of Athens, consults the
  Pythia, who sits on a tripod.
• This is the only contemporary image of the Pythia.

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Oedipus at the Oracle

• The Oracle tells him
• You will grow up to kill your father and marry
  your mother.
• Horrified at this prophecy, Oedipus vows never to
  return to Corinth.
• Believing Polybus and Merope are his real
  parents, he vows never to return to Corinth.
• During his travels, Oedipus comes to a place
  where three roads meet.
• He encounters the royal company of King Laius.
• Oedipus refuses to step aside to let them pass.
• The Kings chariot driver rides over Oedipus
  foot.
• In a fit of rage, Oedipus kills everyone in
  sight, except for one servant who escaped.
• Unbeknownst to Oedipus, he killed his own father
  fulfilling part of his destiny.
• Oedipus continues his journey.

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Oedipus On to Thebes

• Oedipus arrives in Thebes.
• Meets the Sphinx.
• Solves the riddle.
• Marries the Queen.
• Lives a great life.
• UntilThebes falls on hard times again.
• The gods are angry because the previous king,
  King Lauis, was killed and the gods want the
  killer found they want justice.