Politics in the Plays of Sophocles
What is the definition of a man? This is the question asked by the chorus in one of Sophocles� most famous plays, Antigone, possibly the most famous Greek tragedy of all time. Sophocles was an extraordinary leader and an extremely talented playwright for ancient Greece. According to Clifton Collins, the Greeks changed their way of thinking from ignorance to rationalism and questioning with the help of people such as Sophocles in poetry and play writing and Thucydides in history. Throughout his life, Sophocles used his political and military experience to shape his plays. Events in ancient Greek politics, such as political succession disputes, boundary crossings, and other political ...
Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers
|
in 440 (supposedly on the success of his Antigone), and was appointed to a special commission after disaster befell the Sicilian Expedition in 413 (Thorburn). According to Rush Rehm, Michael Vickers argues in his book that Sophocles models some of his characters in his plays off of Athenian politicians such as Alcibiades, Pericles, and Lysander. Although this may not be fully true, it does prove Sophocles� use of Athenian politics in his plays. All of this leadership experience and knowledge plays a large part in his use of the values of courtesy, honor, and loyalty to model Greek politics in his plays. Sophocles� primary interest is kings, queens, princes, and princesses and the struggles they experience within themselves, with their fellow human beings, and with the gods (Thorburn). Courtesy, honor, and loyalty are key values in ancient Greek life and leadership, and Sophocles knew them well in his plays and real life.
The values of courtesy, honor, and loyalty can be ...
Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.
Already a member? Login
|
CITE THIS PAGE:
Politics in the Plays of Sophocles. (2012, March 29). Retrieved March 26, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Politics-in-the-Plays-of-Sophocles/100539
"Politics in the Plays of Sophocles." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 29 Mar. 2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Politics-in-the-Plays-of-Sophocles/100539>
"Politics in the Plays of Sophocles." Essayworld.com. March 29, 2012. Accessed March 26, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Politics-in-the-Plays-of-Sophocles/100539.
"Politics in the Plays of Sophocles." Essayworld.com. March 29, 2012. Accessed March 26, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Politics-in-the-Plays-of-Sophocles/100539.
|
Save
Report