Greek+Literature

Greek Literature

Literature, through plays, expressed true individual expression through exchange of emotions and reason through social and moral issues. Many playwrights expressed pity and fear, and the power of the gods, through tragedies, and ridicule and humor through comedies. Tragedies portrayed disasters and special events corrupting daily life, making people feel pity and fear for what was presented on stage. The playwright shared ideas and free imagery for the act he wrote, creating a place for equal thought no matter what social class the audience was in. It also discussed issues in the royal family and government and expressed the height of gods' power. //Antigone// by Sophocles explored the outcome of a conflict with an individual's duty with the laws of the state. He taught the importance of the duty to the gods compared human law. In //Oresteia//, Aeschylus showed a family torn apart by betrayal, murder, and revenge. Playwrights showed the audience how even the greatest could be brought down by the wrath of the gods, bringing misfortune. Comedies mocked tradition, culture, government officials and society that was thought to be foolish during that time. By ridiculing individuals, playwrights criticized the society, giving a new perspective on the government and other events. It took up social and moral issues to teach about current events to the audience. //Lysistrata// by Aristophanes, he shows the women of Athens banding together to force their husbands to end war against Sparta. This shows the individual expression on love and family being, though it ridicules war and conflicts between societies. Both tragedies and comedies portrayed Greek reasoning and individual expression, though both expressed different emotions and social issues through different perspectives.