Taking a Look at Greek Tragedies - 2583 Words

The word ‘tragedy’ can be traced back to Ancient Greece. Although it now holds a very firm meaning it once was believed to mean â€Å"goat-song† it had a connection to the Greek god Dionysus (â€Å"Tragedy†). Tragedies have evolved throughout the centuries and there is myriads of definitions for tragedies many of which refute the others, however, Aristotle’s Poetics gives its own definition as well as lots of insight. While there is no universal agreement of how a tragedy exactly should be concocted there are many reoccurring themes in tragedies which are present in Antigone such as the law of men against the law of the gods, Hamartia (the tragic flaw), View on Women, the bonds of family and the metaphor used by Aristotle which he values so highly: Catharsis. At the beginning of the play the audience is in ignorance but as the tragedy develops and uses its themes by the end it emanates knowledge. The themes in Antigone display many things for exampl e the law of men against the law of the gods shows human ignorance and ‘great’ rulers committing foolish mistakes which they highly pay for. The tragic flaw shows that humans are more often that credited with being responsible for their own death through their ignorance; although Antigone is quite aware of the consequences her tragic flaw will be responsible for. The view on women shows the little power that women had at the time being expressed through the passive women like Antigone’s sister while also giving heroines to act as moralShow MoreRelatedGreek Tragedy and Modern Drama1107 Words   |  4 PagesGreek Tragedy Modern Drama Tragedy as a form works differently than modern drama when compared to the ancient Greeks. When it comes to modern drama, the main character is usually an ordinary person, someone who is middle class. Where as with Greek tragedy, the main character is someone important and noble, such as a king or queen. Modern drama revolves around everyday problems such as social, economical, or personal conflicts. Greek Tragedies seem to be very linear. It’s mostly about theRead MoreEssay on Antigone Is a Tragedy by Aristotles Rules1215 Words   |  5 Pagesto a tragedy? The play Antigone by Sophocles is considered a tragedy. There are five rules created by Aristotle that classify a tragedy. All plays must have catharsis, a tragic hero, a change in fortune within a character, must be poetic, and happen in one location, in one day, and it is all closely related. Two main characters are the king Creon and a girl named Antigone. Antigone is a tragedy because it exhibits and follows all fiv e of Aristotle’s rules. The first rule of Greek tragedy is itRead MoreFemale Roles In The Oresteia By Aeschylus1022 Words   |  5 Pages– she manoeuvers like a man† (Aeschylus 103). This quote from the Greek tragedy, The Oresteia by Aeschylus, introduces readers to a theme of the piece: the role of women. 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Miller describes what characteristics the modern tragic hero possesses and how he differs from the heroes depicted by classic Greek playwrights such as Sophocles and Aristotle. In order to understand how drastically the modern hero has evolved, one must first understand the basic characteristics that the heroes created by Sophocles and Aristotle encompass. The Greek tragic heroesRead More charant Creon as the Main Character of Antigone Essay1219 Words   |  5 Pages Creon as the Main Character of Antigone nbsp; Throughout the Greek play Antigone by Sophocles, there exists a dispute as to who should receive the designation of main character. Antigone, the daughter of the cursed King Oedipus, as well as Creon, stately king of Thebes, both appear as the key figures in this historic play. I believe that Creon, king of Thebes, should be considered the main character in this work of Greek theater. Three points can be used to make this argument: Creon suffers