Introduction to

Greek Drama
 Greek Tragedy

Tragedy stresses the vulnerability of

human beings whose suffering is
brought on by a combination of
human and divine actions, but is
generally undeserved with regard to
its harshness.
 Performances of Tragedy
Tragedy was a
public genre.
Everyone went to
the performances;
going to theatre
was a ritual
occasion.
Plays were free.
Theatre was their
church.
Greek Tragedy
Because it was seen as religious, you were bad if you
did not go.
The most important event was the Festival of Dionysus,
which was held just 3 days per year.
Dionysus was a very popular god. He was the god of
wine, intoxication, and ecstasy; reproduction and sexual
drive; confusion, destruction, and death; the whole of life,
in all its aspects.
Theater was place for transgression; dealing with human
drives and passions that threaten order and society
Watch someone else mess-up, so you wont make
their mistake.
Theater served as a catharsis, which means it was meant
to purge or cleanse our emotions.
We are supposed to FEEL for the characters.
Sophocles (495-406 B.C.)
Came from an old, noble family in Athens
One of ten Athenian generals
Gave greater play to human will
Wrote plays more focused on human issues
He introduced the third actor on the stage
7 of his tragedies survive
Broke with the tradition that the tragedian
himself must act in his own pieces
The Theban Plays
3 plays written over a wide range of years
Wrote Antigone in 441 B.C., Oedipus the King
14-15 years later and Oedipus at Colonus 22
years later