Introduction to Greek Theater

and Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King)

Greek tragedy was performed as part of an estimated 5-day Athenian religious festival.This festival, The Great Dionysia, was named after the god Dionysus--god of wine, agriculture, fertility, and the stage.Three tragic playwrights competed during the festival for the prize for the best series of three tragedies

(Oedipus is only one play in the trilogy—Antigone and Electra are the others

Greek Theater

There were rarely more than a chorus and 3 actors, regardless of how many roles were played. Actors changed their appearance in the scene.

Performances were outdoors often on hillsides.

Ancient Greek actors had to gesture grandly so that the entire audience could see and hear the story. However most Greek theatres were cleverly constructed to transmit even the smallest sound to any seat.

Greek Theater

The masks were made of linen or cork, so none have survived.

Tragic masks carried mournful or pained expressions, while comic masks were smiling or leering.

The shape of the mask amplified the actor's voice, making his words easier for the audience to hear.

Greek Theater

Tragedy depicts the downfall of a great or virtuous character who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat

Tragic hero (or heroine)

Cause(s) of the hero’s downfall is one, or a combination of, these factors:

Hubris Fate Will of the gods

What is the definition of a Tragedy?

Fate:events that are unavoidable and inevitable

Hubris:a character's excessive pride or self-confidence

Will of the gods:the hero or heroine has no control of their lives;it is all up to the gods,whose messages are revealed by oracles or prophets

Further definitions:

a choral song follows each scene as a way to break up the scenes, and to provide the chorus' response to the previous scene

a group of characters that chants at various points in the action to commenton it or to show the thoughts of society

Chorus sometimes questions character’s motives or points to flaws in their decisions

Role of the chorus in a tragedy

Aristotle borrowed from the medical writers of his day, which means a "refining" -- the viewer of a tragedy refines his or her sense of difficult ethical issues through a vicarious experience of such problems

The process of releasing, purging, and therefore finding relief from strong emotions through pity and fear of another’s situation

What is Catharsis?

Why is it that people are drawn to watching tragic heroes suffer horrible fates?

Why do we find enjoyment in watching others go through pain we would never want to go through ourselves?

Reality TV anyone??

Revolves around three crucial effects:

First, the audience develops an emotional attachment to the tragic hero;

second, the audience fears what may befall the hero;

and finally (after misfortune strikes) the audience pities the suffering hero.

Through these attachments the individual members of the audience go through a catharsis, a purifying process where they can expel strong emotions without ACTUALLY having to experience pain and suffering for real

Aristotle’s Theory of Catharsis

As a tragic hero, Oedipus elicits the three needed responses from the audience far better than most;

indeed, Aristotle and subsequent critics have labeled Oedipus the ideal tragic hero.

Oedipus the King (of Catharsis)