Journal on Greek Tragedy

Journal on Greek Tragedy

Assignment Content: Journal on Greek Tragedy

1. Your Goals
   For this journal writing exercise, you will explore the development of identity through Greek drama. By completing this journal writing assignment, you will gain a deeper understanding of how theatre, drama, and tragedy functioned as forms of visual representation in the ancient world, shaping perceptions of identity, citizenship, and societal norms. Additionally, you will interpret how the protagonist’s hubris contributes to the thematic exploration of identity and citizenship in the selected play. You will also integrate a detailed explanations of Aristotles four steps and four parts of tragedy to enrich your analysis.
   Your Tasks
   1. Select a Greek tragic drama. Project Gutenberg is a great source for these texts. Here are some suggestions:
   • The Theogony by Hesiod
   • The Odyssey by Homer
   • The Iliad by Homer
   • Antigone by Sophocles
   • Medea by Euripides
   • Lysistrata by Aristophanes
   
   2. Begin by writing a reflective journal on the main characters in the play and their roles within the narrative. How does the protagonist exemplify hubris in their choices? What actions and decisions do they make and how do they interact with other characters?
   3. Develop a detailed explanation of Aristotle’s four steps (imitation of an action, scene rendered with speech, dramatic presentation and relationship between characters, culmination with catharsis) and four parts (plot, character/virtue, thought/judgment with consequences, and fate/outcome) of tragedy as they are manifest in your selected play.
   4. Expand on your explanation of the play’s form and provide a critical analysis drawing connections between its themes and the historical context when it was written. How do these elements shape the audience’s understanding of identity and citizenship? how does the play address wider societal issues and the implications of being a particular citizen? How might the themes and messages of the play resonate with the contemporary Greek society? What were the cultural and political issues of the time? Are there specific passages from the play that you can use to illustrate your pointes?
   
   Format
   • Please submit your response below following standard academic conventions. Please use 1″ margins, double spacing, MLA for all citations.
   • Your journal should be at least 500 words long. You must cite your sources. This includes your source for the Greek play, Aristotle’s Poetics, and any other sources that you consult with your research on the historical and cultural context for the play.
   • Note: this assignment must follow academic integrity standards. Your responses must be original and reflect independent critical thinking.

Journal

Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus

According to Bude (1), a tragic drama or tragedy is defined as a play or narrative where the lead actor or protagonist faces an unfortunate event and has a sad ending. The play Prometheus by Aeschylus was written around 400 BC. The story describes the life of Prometheus who is a Titan (One of the Older Gods who ruled the earth before they were overthrown by the Olympians) that defied the god Zeus orders. Prometheus was one of the pre-Olympian gods according to the Greek mythology who was the God of fire and a known trickster and sided with Zeus after Kronos was overthrown. His first encounter with Zeus was when he tricked Zeus and made the sacrifice of Fat and bones. Prometheus hubris is despite his Trickery he cannot stop and steals the fire stored by Zeus and bequeaths it to humans. Eventually Zeus decides to punish humankind and Prometheus by creating pandora (A woman) and she plagued the earth with disease, Evils and plague. The protagonist actions and hubris (He was a trickster who didn’t know when to stop). Eventually leads to him being captured and chained to a remote crad. Zeus would send an eagle every day to eat Prometheus liver and it would grow once again every night. Furthermore, he is sent to the underground for more torture (Greek Myths 1).

Aristotle provide a 4-step process of how to analyses a tragedy. He specified that there are 4 parts to a tragedy and they include. Plot, Character, Thought/Judgement, Fate and outcome. In analyzing the tragedy, the tragic drama has all the four parts. It includes a plot that has a beginning to an end of events that unfold. The plot consists of a series of actions or logical sequence of events from one to another. The play discusses the pre-Olympian Gods being overthrown, Prometheus siding with Zeus after the collapse of older order gods, stealing of fire and siding with mankind and eventually his torture. The Play consist of Character whereby Prometheus is seen as merciful and caring by stealing the fire hidden by Zeus and gifting it to humans to save their race.  Furthermore, the play consists of a thought or judgment. The protagonist in this case of Prometheus who makes a judgement of “Stealing” the fire from Zeus even though the knows that his actions will bring untold repercussion and misery. Lastly, the Play consists of a Fate or outcome whereby after Zeus learns about his treachery, he subjects him to torture for his actions.

The Play helps address several issues in the modern-day setting. There are different themes that are highlighted in the play. They include Fate, Sacrifice, Tyranny and pride. First, Prometheus continues to be rude and defiant to Zeus even through he knew the consequences of his actions. Additionally, the play helps address a wide range of society issues such as Tyranny. Most leader in the world today are Tyrannical in nature. Any attempt to dissuade them from venturing into a certain path attracts hate and punishment.  By analyzing the play the reader is able to understand the themes the author intended to push such as pride, Tyranny Fate and Sacrifice.

External Links

Bude, Tekla . “What Is Tragedy? || Definition & Examples.” Oregon State University, 4 Jun. 2024, liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-tragedy.

“The Myth of Prometheus, Myth of Fire Stolen by Prometheus.” Www.greekmyths-Greekmythology.com, 24 Sept. 2009, www.greekmyths-greekmythology.com/prometheus-fire-myth/#google_vignette. Accessed 4 June 2024.

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