Download Greek Playwrights

JH WEEKLIES ISSUE #13
2015-2016
Ancient Greek Playwrights
Most of what we know about Greek tragedy is taken from the plays of the three
major playwrights of Fifth Century (B.C.E.) Greece: Aeschylus, Sophocles, and
Euripides. While it is important to study the works of these tragedians, it should
be noted that theirs are the only surviving plays from this century. Many
playwrights made contributions during this era, but only the works of these
playwrights remain. This is most likely due to their popularity during their time
and beyond. This study guide will focus heavily on the plays and lives of these
great dramatists.
Here are some names and terms with which you should be familiar after reading
this issue of the WEEKLIES:
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Euripides
father of tragedy
Oresteia
satyr drama
Festival of Dionysia
Theban plays
tetralogy
Aeschylus 523 B.C.E. – 456 B.C.E
Overview:
Known as “the father of tragedy,” Aeschylus wrote the oldest
Greek plays in existence. Aeschylus is known to have written
about 80 plays, but only seven remain. While most tragedies were
written as trilogies, Aeschylus was the author of the only trilogy
that remains in full, the Oresteia containing Agamemnon, The
Libation Bearers, and Eumenides. Many of his plays were tied to
a single theme, and each would be followed by a satyr drama,
which involved a mythological hero with a chorus of satyrs. The
Persians is the only known work that addressed modern-day
concerns of that time. In fact, Aeschylus fought in several battles
during the Persian Wars; in particular, he participated in the Battle
of Marathon and Salamis. His epitaph reflects his military
achievements to that end.
The predecessor of both Sophocles and Euripides, Aeschylus won
the tragic drama contest at the festival of Dionysia 13 times. Aeschylus was responsible for
introducing a second actor and preferred to involve the chorus in the action of the play. Prior to
Aeschylus, only one actor had been used to play multiple roles. Aeschylus died at Gela, where a
monument was erected in his honor.
Works:
His surviving tragedies include:
 The Persians (472 B.C.E.):
o The Persian loss to the Greeks at Salamis.
 Seven against Thebes (467 B.C.E.):
o Polyneices seeks to defeat his brother, Eteocles, to inherit Thebes.
 The Suppliants (464 B.C.E):
o Maidens retreat into hiding after being courted by 50 men.
 Agamemnon (458 B.C.E.):
o The first in the Oresteia trilogy, Agamemnon’s murder.
 The Libation Bearers (458 B.C.E.):
o The second in the Oresteia trilogy, Orestes avenges father’s death.
 Eumenides (458 B.C.E.):
o The third in the Oresteia trilogy, Orestes threatened by Furies after mother’s
murder.
 Prometheus Bound (431 B.C.E.):
o Prometheus gives fire to mankind and then is punished by Zeus.
Noted Work: The Oresteia
This collective name for the trilogy containing Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and
Eumenides reveals the stories of Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, and Orestes.
Agamemnon: When Agamemnon is notified that the fall of Troy is imminent, his wife,
Clytemnestra, rejoices; however, their daughter Iphigeneia dies as a result of their actions during
this war. Agamemnon brings the Trojan princess, Cassandra, to his palace as his concubine.
Cassandra foresees Agamemnon’s demise as well as her own death. Clytemnestra is seen
hovering over their dead bodies but justifies their deaths to the elders. It is possible that
Agamemnon’s son, Orestes, will avenge his father’s death.
The Libation Bearers: Orestes returns to Argos to avenge Agamemnon’s death with the help of
his friend, Pylades. He places a lock of his hair on the tomb, and Electra, his sister, pours
libations on the tomb as well. Electra and Orestes are reunited and invoke their dead father’s
spirit to aid them in their plan for vengeance. Orestes and Pylades disguise themselves as
travelers, and Orestes kills Aegisthus, the former lover of Iphigeneia. Clytemnestra pleads for
her life but is eventually killed by her own son. The Furies pursue him, and he flees.
Eumenides: Orestes gives homage at the shrine of Apollo in Delphi. Apollo offers protection
from the Furies (also known by the name the Eumenides, infernal deities of vengeance) and tells
Orestes to seek out Athena in Athens. Athena hears both the cries and pleas from the Furies and
Orestes and defers to the tribunal of Athens to dispense justice. In the end, the votes are equally
divided, and Athena declares that the defendant, Orestes, be acquitted. The Furies are granted a
permanent home in Athens.
Sophocles; 496 – 406 B.C.E.
Overview:
Born in Colonus Hippius (near modern-day Athens) and the
son of a wealthy merchant, Sophocles received a traditional,
aristocratic education, and, because he was renowned for
his grace, he was selected to lead a choir of boys in a
victory celebration in 480 B.C.E., when he was only
sixteen. Sophocles was the second of the three ancient
Greek tragedians whose work has survived.
For many years, Sophocles was the most-awarded
playwright in the dramatic competitions at the religious
festivals of Lenaca and Dionysia. Sophocles first achieved
major recognition in 468 B.C.E. when he took first prize in
the Dionysia theatre competition over the reigning master
of Athenian drama, Aeschylus. He did, however, also suffer
defeat to fellow playwright Euripedes in 441 B.C.E.
Sophocles competed in about 30 competitions. He won nearly 24 and never received lower than
second place.
Sophocles’ Theban plays, the tragedies involving the characters of Oedipus and Antigone,
remain his most famous. Although each of those plays was actually a part of different tetralogy
(a group of four distinct works, usually three tragedies followed by a satyr play), the other parts
are now lost. Sophocles influenced the development of the drama by adding a third actor, which
further reduced the role of the chorus, which he limited to 15 members. He also introduced
scene painting and created greater opportunity for character development and conflict between
characters. Sophocles died at around age 90, at a time when Athens was prospering militarily
and artistically.
Works:
The author of over 120 plays, with 80 to 90 of them in partial form, only the following seven
have survived in complete form:
 Antigone (442 B.C.E.):
o Antigone defies uncle’s decree and seeks to bury Polyneices.
 Ajax (440? B.C.E.):
o Ajax is angered because Achilles’ armor is awarded to Odysseus.
 The Trachiniae (Trachinian Women) (430 B.C.E.):
o Wife of Heracles worries about him during adventures.
 Electra (410 B.C.E.):
o The revenge of Orestes involving Electra, his sister.
 Oedipus the King (409? B.C.E.)
o Prophecy predicts Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother.
 Philoctetes (409 B.C.E.):
o Philoctetes left on an inland by Odysseus, but Philoctetes must be rescued.
 Oedipus at Colonus (405 B.C.E.):
o The death of Oedipus.
Noted Work: Antigone
Although this is third of the Theban plays, Antigone is often singled out for study because of its
dramatic revelations about the pitfalls of hubris (or pride) and the effects on a family and society.
After two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, die over their battle for the throne of Thebes, Creon
decides that only one will be buried with honors, while the other lay to waste. Sister Antigone
defies her uncle’s decree and seeks to bury the body of Polyneices, despite the threat of death.
The Chorus of Elders sides with Creon but also provides commentary on the action of the events
to unfold. A sentry discovers that someone has performed burial rites and notifies Creon, who
summons Antigone. She concedes her guilt and is imprisoned with her sister Ismene. Creon’s
son, Haemon, tries to persuade Creon to spare the sisters but to no avail; he flees in anger.
Sparing Ismene, Creon decides to bury Antigone alive in a cave. Teiresias, the blind prophet,
warns Creon that the gods will be angered if he does not right his wrongs. Creon is too late, for
Antigone hangs herself; as a result, Haemon stabs himself in grief, which ultimately leads to the
death of Eurydice, who kills herself as well. The Chorus claims that although the gods punish
the proud, wisdom is the result.
Euripides 480 – 406 B.C.E.
Overview:
The youngest of the three principal tragic writers,
Euripides’ work and popularity increased in later life and
after his death. His plays began to be performed in the
Attic drama festivals in 454 B.C.E., but it was not until 442
B.C.E. that he won first prize. A scholar of philosophy and
science, he continued to write but only won awards four
times during his playwright career.
Contributions:
Euripides was the most progressive of the three great
tragedians. He represented the new moral, social, and
political movements that were taking place in Athens
towards the end of the 5th century B.C.E. With “wisdom”
as a goal for Euripides and those of his era, he concentrated
on bringing the experience of ordinary man to the stage
rather than simply legendary heroes or heroines. He was
also the first tragedian to blend tragedy with comic elements to create tragicomedies. He, too,
was the author of the only satyr play to remain completely intact, Cyclops.
Works:
Even though he only won the contests at the festival of Dionysia four times, his work was highly
regarded in the years and centuries after his death. Due to his incredible popularity in later years,
a remarkable number of his plays have survived, 18 in total. Euripides’ surviving plays include:
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Alcestis (438 B.C.E.):
o Admetus marries Alcestis, but he offends Artemis who condemns him to death.
Medea (431 B.C.E.):
o This play follows the murderous wife of Jason, Medea.
Hippolytus (428 B.C.E.):
o Hippolytus struggles after insulting Aphrodite.
The Children of Heracles (417-415 B.C.E.):
o The children of Heracles must flee when his arch nemesis, Eurystheus, plans to
kill them.
Andromache (417-415 B.C.E.):
o Andromache struggles after the death of her husband, Hector.
Hecuba (417-415 B.C.E.):
o Hecuba’s daughter is about to be sacrificed, but Hecuba may be able to save her.
Heracles (417-415 B.C.E.):
o Heracles’ family is in trouble back home while he is in the Underworld searching
for Cerberus.
The Suppliants (417-415 B.C.E.):
o Polyneices and Eteocles are both dead, yet Creon has decreed that the traitor
Polyneices and his men are not to be buried.
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Ion (417-415 B.C.E.)
o The story of the orphan Ion and how he discovers his parents.
The Trojan Women (415 B.C.E.):
o This play focuses on the plights of many notable women after the fall of Troy,
including Hecuba, Andromache, and Helen.
Electra (417-408 B.C.E.):
o The story of the children of Agamemnon and their attempt to avenge their father’s
murder.
Iphigenia in Tauris (417-408 B.C.E.):
o Tells the story of the sacrifice of Iphigenia, who, at the last moment before her
sacrifice, was saved by Artemis and sent to Tauris.
Helen (412 B.C.E.):
o This play tells Helen’s side of the story of her infidelity. Her version has a
strange twist, leaving her in Egypt while a fake Helen is kidnapped by Paris,
prince of Troy.
The Phoenician Women (409 B.C.E.):
o Polyneices’ decision to attack his home of Thebes when his brother, Eteocles,
refuses to share power.
Orestes (408 B.C.E.):
o The story of Orestes, who avenges the death of his father by killing the murderer,
his mother.
The Bacchae (unknown):
o The story of Dionysus’ return to Thebes to bring honor to his mother, Semele, and
give the Thebans the freedom to worship him.
Iphigenia in Aulis (unknown):
o This play takes place just prior to the Trojan War as the Greeks prepare to sail for
Troy. There is no wind for their journey and Agamemnon learns that he must
sacrifice his daughter, Iphigenia, if the wind is to return.
Cyclops (unknown):
o The only surviving satyr play focuses on Odysseus’ defeat of the Cyclops,
Polyphemus.
Noted Work: Medea
In this play, the themes of vengeance and love are explored. Euripides retells the classic myth of
Jason, the leader of the Argonauts, and Medea, his wife. When Medea is abandoned and
betrayed by Jason, who seeks to marry Glauce, she is so grief-stricken that she forges a deal with
the King of Athens. Medea agrees to help the king’s wife conceive a child through her potion
expertise. Medea then pretends to support the upcoming marriage of Jason and his new princess
and sends robes and a coronet, but the gifts are poisoned, and Glauce dies. The king also dies
when he throws himself upon the poisoned body of Glauce. Medea, however, seeks to devastate
Jason further by stabbing their own children, thus depriving Jason of any happiness.