OEDIPUS

INTRODUCTION

SophoclesBorn 496 B.C.Wrote 113 plays, only 7 have survivedFrom an area outside Athens, GreeceWon 1st at the Dionysian 18 timesInnovator of drama: painted background scenery and 3speaking actorsInterested in character portrayalConcerned with the individual’s struggle with FateDied at 90 in 406 B.C

Origins of Greek Drama-Dionysus

Began through religious worship of DionysusGreek god of wine, revelry, and physical pleasureHandsome and vigorous-filled with the joy of lifeFather of the Greek Theater

Origins of Greek DramaWhen grapes were harvested, the Greeks would celebrate in honor of DionysusMuch dancing and singingSome people wore masksAt first, everyone took part in the activities. Then, some who danced or sang better than the others would take control of the activities.The others would gather to watch, thus performance came into existenceA large audience needed a place to see the performance. The people sought out semi-circular hillsides sloping down toward a flat area. This flat area was stomped down and called the “dancing circle” and Western civilization’s first “stage”

The First Theatre

Theatre of Delphi

Theatre Ruins

Theatre of Dionysus

Theatre at Epidaurus

LSU’s Greek Theatre

Characteristics of Greek DramaOpen to to the skySeats of stoneSimple props usedNo violence represented directly on stageRich citizens (patrons) funded the expense of putting on a playAwesome acoustics and visibilityTickets were freeOnly occurred once a year at the Feast of Dionysus

Characteristics of Greek DramaWomen sat apart from menOnly men were actors or in the chorus: elaborate masks wornLively audience, ate and drank, quarreled, shouted, hissed, groaned, threw olives, figs, or stonesThree days of drama-on each day five plays were presented: 3 tragedies, a satyr play, and a comedyWinners chosen by a panel of 10 judges

Greek Masks

The ChorusEarliest Greek drama was a group production performed by a chorusThe chorus sometimes sang, sometimes chantedIn 535 B.C., a man named Thespis, who was a prominent leader of the chorus, stepped out from the group and recited alone—thus, the first actorOriginally, the Chorus consisted of about 50 people

The ChorusChorus dwindled to no more than 15 people over the years, as first a 2nd actor was added, and finally, a 3rd

Chorus functions as another character in the play-sort of

Chorus sets the mood and atmosphere of the playEngages in dialogue with the characters through the Chorus LeaderComments on and emphasizes the main themes of the playOffers important background and provides summaries so that the audience might better understand the playModels an ideal audience’s response to the unfolding dramaForeshadows the outcome of the play

Tragic HeroA man of high birthHas great promise, ability, and integrity of characterNeither extremely good or evilHas a tragic flaw or weakness-sometimes seen in as an error in judgmentSuffers, does not endure passively, fights backHe must have a choiceDownfall (causes?)

Characters in Oedipus Rex

Oedipus- “Pierced feet”- Current King of ThebesJocasta-Oedipus’ wife, widow of murdered King LaiusPolybus and Merope-Oedipus’ adoptive parents, king and queen of CorinthCreon-Jocasta’s brotherTeiresias-soothsayer

Oracle at Delphi

Apollo’s oracleProphecies given by oracleOracle a priestess of ApolloNatural gas

Sphinx

Monster with the head of a woman, claws or a lion, tail of a serpent, and the wings of a birdTook up residence near the cit of Thebes and asked every person the following riddle: “What walks on four legs in the morning, on two at noon, and on three in the evening?”Killed those who could not answer her correctly

Things to Look for in Oedipus Rex

Irony, chiefly, dramatic ironyConcept of fateCharacterization of OedipusRole of and Belief in the godsBlindness, Truth, KnowledgeDiseaseNature of the conflictConcept of transgression-violation of a law, command, or duty