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Sophocles's philosophy
Sophocles's philosophy
Who were the tragic heroes of sophomore year
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Biography of Sophocles
Sophocles was born near Athens, in the small town of Colonus, around 495 BC. His ninety-year life span coincided with the rise and fall of the Athenian Golden age. The son of Sophillus, a wealthy armor maker, Sophocles was provided with the best traditional aristocratic education available in Athens (Page 3). Very little is known about Sophocles as a youth, although one public record suggests his participation in “The Chorus of Youths,” chosen to celebrate the Athenian naval victory at Salamis, in 480 BC (Terrell 1). Much speculation exists around the life of Sophocles as a young man, but no definite record of his achievements can be found before 468 BC, the year he defeated Aeschylus in a dramatic competition. During his life as a dramatist, Sophocles won first prize about twenty times, in annual competitions usually held at the Theatre of Dionysus, and was awarded second prize many times as well (Page 3). In addition to his theatrical accomplishments, Sophocles also served on the Board of Generals, a committee that administered civil and military affairs in Athens. He supposedly denied more illustrious positions concerning politics, and spent the majority of his time as a dramatist and civil servant until his death in 406 BC (Terrell 1).
The contributions made by Sophocles to dramatic technique were numerous, and two of his innovations were especially important. He increased the number of actors from two to three, thus lessening the influence of the chorus and making possible greater complication of the plot and the more effective portrayal of character by contrast and juxtaposition; and he changed the Aeschylean fashion of composing plays in groups of three, each of them part of a central...
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...nance created by man. Antigone defies the state, but it is clear that the Gods, representing all that is truthful, sincere, and inherently good, favor her.
Bibliography:
Babette, Clarence. “ Sophocles: His Work and Influence.” Sep. 1999.
*http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/6681/sophoclb.htm*(13 Apr. 2000)
Kitto, H.D.F
Lattimore, Richard. The Complete Greek Tragedies. Ed. David Grene. New York City: The Modern Library, 1982.
Page, Jeffery M. “ A Brief Biography of Sophocles and Comments on Major Works.” June. 1997.
*http://www.watson.org/rivendell/dramagreeksophocles.html* (13 Apr. 2000)
Sheppard, J.T. Aeschylus and Sophocles. Ed. David Moore Robinson. New York City: Cooper Square Publishers, 1963.
Terrell, Vincent. “ Biographical Information on Sophocles.” Sep. 1998
*http://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc.htm* (14 Apr. 2000)
Sophocles style of plot structure was usually to begin in media res. This is particularly true of Oedipus Tyrannus. When the reader or audience is first introduced to the main character, Oedipus is already a grown man and king of his country. In the first few lines, talk of a "fiery plague ravaging the city" is mentioned (Sopochles 3). In the very early stages of the play the reader begins to feel pity for Oedipus and recognizes his suffering. The time span is also another important factor to consider when analyzing the plot structure. The play in its entirety takes place within a one to two day period. The flashback scenes into Oedipus' childhood give the audience a better sense of the big picture, but can be misleading when focusing on the time aspect element.
West, Grace S., Thomas West. Texts on Socrates: Plato and Aristophanes. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998.
Sophocles. The Oedipus Cycle. Trans. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald. New York: Harvest/HBJ-Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1939.
The heroine of this story is the fearless and honorable girl, Antigone. She acted more motherly than sisterly, always seeking honor and caring for her fallen family. The villain would be the king, Creon, who was increasingly more concerned about his own personal authority and welfare. He thought of himself as the supreme ruler over the city and felt that all people should obey him in all things, great and small, just and unjust. Only God, Himself, should have this honor!
Bowra, C. M. “Sophocles’ Use of Mythology.” In Readings on Sophocles, edited by Don Nardo. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1997.
Sophocles was born around 496 B.C. in the rural area of Hippeious Colonus, Attica, near Athens. His father was an wealthy armor manufacturer (“Sophocles”). Sophocles was educated in music, dancing, and athletics.
Woodard, Thomas. Introduction. In Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Thomas Woodard. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.
The character of Antigone in Sophocles’ play, Antigone, is one of the most controversial tragic characters in classic literature. The war in her city has torn her family apart, caused the death of both her brothers, and created a reason for her to fight against the King, her uncle. Her uncle, Creon, makes a ruling that her brother, Polynices, is not to be buried because he is a traitor, but according to her religion, her brother’s soul will not go to the afterlife until he is buried. In defense of her brother, she buries his body illegally and is subsequently sentenced to death. With her complex patterns of thought, bold actions, and the end she encounters, the character of Antigone causes debate among critics as to whether or not Antigone is in fact a tragic heroine. She can be perceived as a martyred hero, dying for love and religion, or as a fanatic woman who lacks the ability to think rationally. The way in which Antigone’s role is interpreted can further help to interpret Sophocles’ view of women and politics. In taking the view that she is a hero who died for her beliefs, it shows that Sophocles was aiming to prove that women deserve to be treated as equals and as citizens of Greece.
Woodard, Thomas. Introduction. In Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by Thomas Woodard. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.
Sophocles. Oedipus Tyrannus. Norton Critical ed. Trans. Luci Berkowitz and Theodore F. Brunner. New York: Norton, 1970.
Murray, Robert D. Jr. "Thought and Structure in Sophoclean Tragedy", in Sophocles, A Collection of Critical Essays, Woodward, Thomas, editor,
Sophocles. Four Plays by Sophocles. Trans. Thomas H. Banks. New York: Oxford University Press, 1966.
Information about lifes of Sophocles and Euripides are very limited and hard to verify. However, many sources match about following information about their biographies. Sophocles was born at 497 or 496 BCE in Colonus Hippius, now a part of Athens. His father was a wealthy merchant and weapon producer and an important figure in their society. So, Sophocles had the opportunity of taking the traditional aristocratic education and studying art in his early age which was a pr...
The ineffaceable impression which Sophocles makes on us today and his imperishable position in the literature of the world are both due to his character-drawing. If we ask which of the men and women ofGreek tragedy have an independent life in the imagination apart from the stage and from the actual plot in which they appear, we must answer, ‘those created by Sophocles, above all others’ (36).
In answering this question, I will look at the question in two ways. Firstly, I will look at the role of the chorus objectively, examining the basic role of the chorus in the play, and looking at the role of the Chorus as Sophocles would have intended the role of the Chorus to be understood. However, I will then look at how I think the Greek audience would have perceived the role of the Chorus and then how the role of the Chorus is perceived today by a 20th century and examine the key differences in the two different sets of perceptions. Finally, I will look at the importance of the role of the Chorus to a 20th century audience and a Greek audience respectively.