Catharsis In Greek Tragedy
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Submitted by OneBadSummer on 06/30/2008 05:21 PM
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Catharsis In Greek Tragedy
Greek tragedy has been studied for many centuries, and several works and authors have transcended the ages. One such author would be Sophocles. Among his most famous works are Oedipus Rex and Antigone. Greek theater was for an audience to not only watch, but feel with the characters as the story unfolds. Sophocles, along with other dramaticists, wrote tragedies to give their audience an uplifting experience.
One such way that the audience could be drawn into the play was by curiosity. The stories of Oedipus and Antigone were well known, but the audience would want to see how the author wrote about characters and how the actors portray them. Though Sophocles original audience generally knew these myths well, they would want to see the stories actually played out, each actor dedicated to their role, playing the character to their extreme.
Another such curiosity would be the commoner's wonder of the lives of the nobles and royals. Greek plays generally oriented around the more socially prominent figures of society, and the story could provide some insight for the audience. Members of the audience would be able to compare their lives to that of the characters'. Or they might be able to compare the story as they know it to the playwrights portrayal.
Tragic flaw plays an important role in Greek tragedy. The protagonist usually has a characteristic about themselves that is their downfall. Oedipus' tragic flaw was his incredible determination to disprove his prophesized fate. Antistrophe I: "He wanders through the forest wild, in caves and over rocks, as strays the mountain bull, in dreary loneliness with dreary tread, seeking in vain to shun the words prophetic of the central shrine." (Oedipus Rex, lines 504-509). When, in Antigone, Antigone disobeys the king Creon and buries her brother, Creon becomes hell-bent on punishing her, even though she carried out a righteous and proper duty. The more he is disputed, the harsher the punishment becomes....
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