Thucydides, a "historian," and Sophocles, a playwright, were two men that shared the Greek notion of tragedy in their works. Thucydides' idea of history can be compared to this notion epitomized in Sophocles' Oedipus plays. Included in their works are three of the most important elements of a Greek tragedy, which are foreshadows, cynical irony and an inevitable tragic downfall.
In both their works, Thucydides and Sophocles include foreshadowing to hint the inevitable downfall. In On Justice Power and Human Nature, Thucydides uses the debate to foreshadow the outcome of the war. Included in this debate at Sparta was the foreshadowing of the fortification of Decelea. The Corinthians argued that the Peloponnesians would have the advantage in war, and one of these reasons was that Attica was vulnerable to internal rebellions, and the establishment of a fort in Attica (Thucydides, ii.118-124). When Alcibiades fled to Sparta, he advised them to fortify a summit in Decelea and maintain an army there throughout the year. In the spring of 413 they heeded to Alcibiades' advice and fortified Decelea (Thucydides, vi.60-61 and 88-93; vii.1-41). Sophocles also used foreshadowing. Oedipus' name in itself is a premonition. One of its meanings is agony, or anguish. This is foreshadowed from the very beginning as he exclaims that "all know [him], the world knows [his] fame: [he] is Oedipus," (Sophocles, 159). In the play Oedipus is speaking about his fame of defeating the Sphinx and of his rule of Thebes. On the other hand, he is speaking to the audience as well. By stating his name as Oedipus, they recognize him and already know his miserable future. It is obvious that Oedipus suffers, for he was "`cursed in [his] birth, cursed ...
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... to the gods but to him, (Oedipus, 171). Oedipus directly causes his own downfall not because he is evil, proud or weak, but simply because he does not know who he is. Throughout the play Oedipus grows steadily in nobility and awesomeness. He continues to get closer to the truth, and in the end condemns himself. His dreadful downfall was inevitable, as well as the demise of Athens.
In conclusion, the Greek idea of tragedy embodied in Sophocles' Oedipus plays is consistent with Thucydides' idea of history. Both included foreshadowing, irony and tragic demise.
Works Cited
Sophocles. The Three Theban Plays: Anitgone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus.
Transltr. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin Group Inc., 1984.
Thucydides. On Justice Power and Human Nature. Transltr Paul Woodruff.
Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, Inc., 1993.
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