A Look at Two Characters of Greek.
Tragedy and Their Reactions to Adversity.
Throughout many Greek tragedies, plays, and poems there are many characters that are faced with adversity when tragedy occurs. With these many instances a multitude of emotional reactions arise. The variances of emotion, although shown from a character, are all based on human responses. These responses are countless in number for the reason that there are many facets to human nature. In looking at only two characters in Greek writings; Oedipus from Oedipus the King written by Sophocles and Medea from Medea written by Euripides, we can see two different reactions to adversity in tragedy. Medea, when faced with the loss of her husband to another woman, turns vengeful and murderous, "the emotions of the woman whose love has turned to hatred, and equally those of the man who loves no more, represent something eternal and unchangeable in human nature" (Page xv). Oedipus, when faced with the knowledge that he killed his birth father and married his birth mother, turns self destructive. "The tragedies of Sophocles concern resolute, intelligent, civilized people, determined to understand everything; they never do, because there is a dark nonsensical element in things which eludes comprehension and often destroys them" (Lattimore 102). Oedipus is one of these people. He is in search of the truth and finds it but to his own destruction, "the composite picture of a man who appears to have everything, and by doing nothing beyond seeking truth, loses everything, touches a universal anxiety" (Walton 3). Both Medea and Oedipus are faced with life changing events. How they individually handle the events is their greatest difference. Emotional reactions to adversity in tragedy vary from character to character and are based on personality, past experience, or exposure to many different situations during childhood.
As an example the Greeks mad kraters, also known as two handled vases, a very wide mouth to mix wine and olive oil in. ... Some of our buildings could be lopsided looking from afar. ... All of the early Greek plays were always tragedies. During theses plays the lead character struggles against fate and or doom. ... Government The two most famous city-states in Greece were Sparta and Athens. ...
This actor was called the protagonist, or the main character of a drama. ... Tragedy was at its height in Greek society when that society was at its height and comedy was an outlet for the frustrations of society as well as a diversion for the masses. ... Previous to the invention of the skene, entrances could only be made through the two ramps which led onto the orchestra. ... This was the dominion of female characters. ... The masks worn by the actors looked more 'natural' than bare faces in the TDA. ...
Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and polymath, defines and distinguishes in the "Poetics" what he believes are the most important components and criteria of a model tragedy. ... Aristotle believes Sophocles has written the perfect plot, and all other elements of his play fulfill the Greek philosopher's definition of a tragedy. It is through Sophocles's plot, character, language, and also the way the play was performed on stage that we can understand what tragedians in the modern age need to improve to fit all Aristotle's different criteria for a tragedy and also be known as a cla...
In relation to Greek tragedy the question of just how central is violence in tragedy is interesting considering that no blood was spilled on stage in Greek tragedy. In fact the tragedy was in the description, the dialogue of the characters. ... Of course there were different morals and the two audiences would not necessarily focus of the same tragic elements of one play. ... I believe that even Sophocles looked upon violence as the second tragedy of his plays and that for Oedipus the ill-fated relationship with his mother is an unchangeable tragedy alone. ... In looking closely at Oedipu...
They introduced us to politics, democracy, philosophy, metaphysics, literature, architecture, history, entertainment and tragedy. ... He composed the "Iliad" and "The Odyssey", which are two famous epic poems. ... Often, it is thought as a kind of a story in the lives of the characters. Drama, especially tragedy, became the most important literary form. ... The Greeks were also interested in architecture of Greece and Greek colonies. ...
Tragedy as a genre is made of strict conventions carried forward from its Greek conception. ... Edgar then is a restorative force just as Cordelia is, an alternative to the two conflicting worlds. ... However if assessed in terms of strict Greek or Shakespearean models then Lear falls down somewhat as a tragedy, as it does not belong to a world in which transcendent human values exist. ... Looking at Beckett's Endgame may illuminate further the problem inherent in modern tragedy. ... If we look at the opening of the play we are already confronted with irregularity. ...
The Tragic Hero Sophocles is well known for his great Greek tragedies, which focus in on the lives of a small group of people that ultimately lead to an awful tragic ending that applies to their lives. ... The protagonist of a tragedy is referred to as a tragic hero; they must be high ranking, a noble character and of a dignified stature before the tragic events occur. ... The tragedy of tragedies lies within the life of one man, Creon. ... I look for comfort; my comfort lies here dead. ... His dignified stature, noble character, high rank, and courageousness brought down to dust as he faces...
I will begin this section with a general look at the lives of women in ancient Greece. I will then proceed to look at the social attitudes towards women at the time. ... These two authors depict the most constant view of women in ancient times. ... The populace of Athens put a picture of her on their coins and as Athens became more imperialistic, Athena started to look different, more war like. Now I will look at what the many Greek philosophers said about women. ...
