Greek Theatre

Greek Drama Research Task 1. Explain when and why plays, both tragic and comic, were performed in 5th century Athens. The Aristotelian tradition, defined tragedy as a drama which concerns better than average people (heroes, kings, gods) who suffer a transition from good fortune to bad fortune, and who speak in an elevated language. Comedy concerns average, or below average, people who enjoy a transition from bad circumstances too good (but not too good) and who …

…all the men on the island of Melos and sold the women and children into slavery. In the play the Athenians are condemned and their doom is pledged, mirroring the reality of the disastrous Sicilian expedition. In 408 B.C., aged 72, Euripides left Athens. He continued to experiment, although his ideas were often too abstract for tragedy. His audiences are often left with a sense of desolation at the waste of untapped potential, with no consolation.