OtherPapers.com - Other Term Papers and Free Essays
Search

The Greeks

Essay by   •  July 31, 2011  •  Essay  •  511 Words (3 Pages)  •  1,392 Views

Essay Preview: The Greeks

Report this essay
Page 1 of 3

The Greeks believed that too much power entrusted in one person was dangerous. They were the first democratic society in a tumultuous world of kings and emperors, and they were proud of their ideology. Considering their fervent believe in rule by many, its not surprising that many Greek dramas revolve around an individual hero or a king's fall from power because of pride or some other personality flaw. Well-known characters in some of the greatest Greek tragedians' plays illustrate this idea. In Aeschylus's Agamemnon, the title character is a returning king who behaves arrogantly and thoughtlessly. He is murdered by his wife and his kingdom falls apart. Sophocles's character Oedipus ends up killing his father, losing his kingdom and his wife and mother, and becoming a blind, wandering outcast for the rest of his life. Jason in Euripides's Medea deserts his family for a new marriage which he hopes will further his station, but his old wife kills his new wife and his children, ending his hopes for a shining future.

The Greeks believed that too much power entrusted in one person was dangerous. They were the first democratic society in a tumultuous world of kings and emperors, and they were proud of their ideology. Considering their fervent believe in rule by many, its not surprising that many Greek dramas revolve around an individual hero or a king's fall from power because of pride or some other personality flaw. Well-known characters in some of the greatest Greek tragedians' plays illustrate this idea. In Aeschylus's Agamemnon, the title character is a returning king who behaves arrogantly and thoughtlessly. He is murdered by his wife and his kingdom falls apart. Sophocles's character Oedipus ends up killing his father, losing his kingdom and his wife and mother, and becoming a blind, wandering outcast for the rest of his life. Jason in Euripides's Medea deserts his family for a new marriage which he hopes will further his station, but his old wife kills his new wife and his children, ending his hopes for a shining future.

The Greeks believed that too much power entrusted in one person was dangerous. They were the first democratic society in a tumultuous world of kings and emperors, and they were proud of their ideology. Considering their fervent believe in rule by many, its not surprising that many Greek dramas revolve around an individual hero or a king's fall from power because of pride or some other personality flaw. Well-known characters in some of the greatest Greek tragedians' plays illustrate this idea. In Aeschylus's Agamemnon, the title character is a returning king who behaves arrogantly and thoughtlessly. He is murdered by his wife and his kingdom falls apart. Sophocles's character Oedipus ends up killing his father, losing his kingdom and his wife and mother, and becoming a blind, wandering outcast for the rest of his life. Jason in Euripides's

...

...

Download as:   txt (3 Kb)   pdf (55 Kb)   docx (8.7 Kb)  
Continue for 2 more pages »
Only available on OtherPapers.com
Citation Generator

(2011, 07). The Greeks. OtherPapers.com. Retrieved 07, 2011, from https://www.otherpapers.com/essay/The-Greeks/8023.html

"The Greeks" OtherPapers.com. 07 2011. 2011. 07 2011 <https://www.otherpapers.com/essay/The-Greeks/8023.html>.

"The Greeks." OtherPapers.com. OtherPapers.com, 07 2011. Web. 07 2011. <https://www.otherpapers.com/essay/The-Greeks/8023.html>.

"The Greeks." OtherPapers.com. 07, 2011. Accessed 07, 2011. https://www.otherpapers.com/essay/The-Greeks/8023.html.