Download Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex
Background Information
Historical Context
1.
Establishment of democracy
2.
Citizenship and government
3.
Education
4.
Major wars with Persia and Sparta
5.
Commercial enterprises
6.
Rise of mathematics and science
7.
Development of rhetoric
Social and Cultural Context
1.
Religious life
2.
The arts
3.
Reason
4.
The role of mythology
5.
Social classes
6.
The role of women
7.
Legacy of ancient Greece
Sophocles: Ancient Greek Tragedian
“…is there a man
more agonized?
More wed to pain
and frenzy? Not a
man on earth,
the joy of your life
ground down to
nothing
O Oedipus, name for
the ages.” —
497/6 BC – 406/5 BC
Sophocles wrote 123 plays during
the course of his life. For almost 50
years, Sophocles was the most-fêted
playwright in the dramatic
competitions of the city-state of
Athens. He competed in around 30
competitions, won perhaps 24, and
was never judged lower than
second place.
Chorus in Oedipus Rex
Among Sophocles' earliest innovations was the addition of a
third actor, which further reduced the role of the chorus and
created greater opportunity for character development and
conflict between characters. Aeschylus, the dominant
Athenian playwright during Sophocles' early career, followed
suit and adopted the third character into his own work
towards the end of his life. Aristotle credits Sophocles with
the introduction of skenographia, or scenery-painting. It was
not until after the death of the old master Aeschylus in 456
BC that Sophocles became the pre-eminent playwright in
Athens.
Sophocles: Ancient Greek Tragedian
Why write Oedipus Rex?
• Popular interest
• Science vs. religion