Politics in Greek Tragedy
- Created by: gsoning
- Created on: 28-05-19 12:31
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- Politics in Greek Tragedy
- Oedipus Rex
- Standard Athenian practice to isolate criminals from society
- [Creon] 'Banish the man'
- [Oedipus] 'He will suffer no bearable punishment, nothing worse than exile, totally unharmed'
- Athenian justice-Oedipus, as the king, will take responsibility if the murderer is close to. This shows he is a genuine king who cares about his people
- [Oedipus] 'I curse myself as well'
- Sophistry
- Creon is caused of sophistry by Oedipus which is Dangerous for Oedipus as the ability to cleverly persuade could lead to Creon having too much power/more power than the king
- [Oedipus] 'Creon is this conspiracy his or yours?
- Creon is caused of sophistry by Oedipus which is Dangerous for Oedipus as the ability to cleverly persuade could lead to Creon having too much power/more power than the king
- Standard Athenian practice to isolate criminals from society
- The Bacchae
- Pentheus wants to explore Dionysus to save the women of Thebes
- [Dionysus] 'Would you like to see them sitting together in the mountains?'
- [Pentheus] 'Very much! I would give a countless pile of gold for it'
- As Pentheus believes the bacchants have been ruined by Dionysus, perhaps he feels like he is helping Thebes by trying to save the women.
- [Dionysus] 'Would you like to see them sitting together in the mountains?'
- Sophistry
- Tiresias accuses Pentheus of sophistry for renouncing Dionysus
- 'No logic will overthrow the traditions we have received from our fathers'
- 'A fine orator whose ability is based on confidence is a bad citizen, since he lacks good judgement
- Tiresias accuses Pentheus of sophistry for renouncing Dionysus
- Xenophobia
- Persians/ Foreigners are unwelcome.
- Dionysus represents the typical Persian, thus making him an enemy of Thebes
- Is Pentheus then justified in his xenophobia against Pentheus
- [Goggin] 'Dionysus is a God who breaks down barriers (of class, gender, social norms)'
- Perhaps Pentheus is Xenophobic towards Dionysus as he doesn't agree with Dionysus' persona
- [Pentheus] 'They say that a foreigner has come here [...] his blond hair smelling of perfume, his cheeks flushed'
- Persian men were effeminate, which was hugely objected by Athenians
- Dionysus represents the typical Persian, thus making him an enemy of Thebes
- Persians/ Foreigners are unwelcome.
- Pentheus wants to explore Dionysus to save the women of Thebes
- Oedipus and Pentheus were both tyrannical
- [messenger re Pentheus] 'I fear for the swiftness of your moods [...] excessively king like'
- Athenians were pro-democracy so they most likely would not have sympathised with the two kings
- debating was a huge part of Athenian life
- Oedipus Rex
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