Лекция курсы lecture 1 The Problems of the Lecture

Sophocles (496-406 BC)

Sophocles is one of three Greek tragic dramatists whose plays have preserved for Modern times (of the more than 100 plays he wrote, complete copies of only 7 remain). He was forn at Colonus [k 1l n1s], near Athens At the age of 16 he was chosen to lead a chorus of boys in the celebration of Athens’ great naval victory over the Persians at Salamis [sal1m1s], (capital of Cypnus).

During his career he served his city in many posts at home and abroad and at the age of 55 become a general during the Samian War [same1n].
We don’t know exactly when Sophocles first entered plays in the annual dramatic competition at Athens - we do know, however, that he took the top prize for the first time when he was only 28. In that competition he defeated the great writer Aeschylus. During his life he was awarded the first prize about 20 times and never placed lower than second in the contest. Sophocles like many great playwrights was an innovator. For one thing, he introduced more elabotate scene-pointing to the Greek theatre. A more important contribution was the addition of a third actor to the cast of his plays. Before Sophocles time all the parts in the Greek plays were taken by only two actors - a severe limitation. In adding the third actor, Sophocles opened new possibilities for a more complicated and flexible arrangement of the stage action.
“Anitigone” is a play complete in itself, but it is a part of a series of 3 plays. Sophocles wrote about the city of Thebes and the family of Oedipus. The other two are “Oedipus Rex” (Oedipus the king) and “Oedipus at Colonus”. The series follows the destiny of a family hounted by a curse that follows them from generation to generation.
“Anitigone” is a drama in which a strong-willed woman and her powerful uncle, both fiercely believing themselves to be right, clash on a matter of principle. It also one of the great and enduring works of our cultural heritage. The play belongs to that class of literature known as tragedy, which the ancient Greek dramatist developed to great heights.
These myths were about king Lay and Iokasta. They had no children and once oracle foretold that they would have a son with a fatal destiny. He would become the killer of his own father and would be a husband of his own mother. King Lay was afraid of it, and when he was born he gave his son to his shepherd. The king ordered his son to be killed. But the shepherd was sorry for the boy and gave it to another shepherd. The latter gave the boy to his king, who also had no children. They brought up Oedipus, when he was older he also knew about his terrible destiny and went away to the city Thebes. On the way to the city he met an old man, they quarreled and Oedipus hit him with the stick on the head and that old man died. He continued his way, and on entering the city he met Sphinx, he solved his riddles and people offered him to marry to their widowed queen. He married to her, not knowing that she was his mother.
“King Oedipus” begins with the event when citizens of Thebes came to Oedipus and asked him to know the reason of God’s curse, because at that time there was plaque in the city, people were dying one after another.
Oedipus sent his man to the city Delphia to the church of Apollo and knew that there was a killer of King Lay in the city. If they found him, the plaque would disappear.
Oedipus began to investigate. During the investigation Oedipus realized that the killer was himself. Oracle Teresey knew about it, he opened that secret to Oedipus and he said that Oedipus would be punished and the city Thebes would be destroyed. When Iokasta knew all about it, she went to her bedroom and killed herself. Oedipus took a pin of her dress and bored through his eye and then left the city.
Suffering of Oedipus was more terrible than his death, as he accused himself in his destiny. At the same time he wanted to apologize himself, saying that fortune played a terrible joke on him, deciding his destiny before his birth.
The main idea of the tragedy. Sophocles confirmed that it was impossible to run away of the destiny. After some time Sophocles returned to the life of Oedipus and wrote the tragedy “Oedipus in Colonus”. Here he wanted to show the innocence of Oedipus. Here Oedipus was an old man, who spent his life wandering. When he felt that he was dying, he asked Tesea to accompany him to the nearest cave. He took his daughter Antigone with him, later she told about his death and also said that Gods excused him.
Colonus was the Motherland of Sophocles, that’s why he described it as “a beautiful and relaxing city”. The tragedy “Oedipus in Colonus” was written when Sophoklus was 90. His children turned round the judge with proceeding to eastablish tutelage on their father, as they considered that he was mad. In ancient Greece there was no lawyer in the judge. The man, who was accused, had to defend himself. When Sophocles came to judge, he read two passages from the tragedy “Oedipus in Colonus” and then said “If I’m Sophocles, I’am not mad; If I’m mad, I’m not Sophocles”. It was enough to justify Sophocles.
One of the best Sophocles’ works was the tragedy “Antigone”. In this tragedy there was a struggle for throne between Oedipus’ sons Eteokl and Polinnik. Polinnik left for another city Carnif; married and organized an army and waged war against Thebes. Eteokl didn’t want war, he offered a duel. At the end of the duel both of them died and their next brother Kreont became the king. He buried Eteokl with honour and respect, Polinnik as a traitor wasn’t buried, but was left in an open air.
But Antigone couldn’t see him to lie on the ground and at night she buried him secretly. The next morning, the soldiers came to the king and told all about it. King Kreont was disturbed and he blamed the soldiers in bribery. For the first time the injury of gold was declared in the West European literature. Kreont ordered his soldiers to find the criminal. When they found Antigone, there was a dialogue between Antigone and Kreont. After that Kreont ordered her to be prisoned. Antigone didn’t want to die in hunger and hung herself on her raincoat. At that time Kreont met Teresey and he told him to be prepared for new misfortunes, because his son was in love with Antigone. After being aware about her death he committed suicide. Kreont’s wife also died when she knew about her son’s death.
Sophocles made the tragedy as the means of influence on people’s soul. As Aeschylus he created such characters, which remained eternally. His characters never hesitated. They were very strong figures, who were eager to any action. Sophocles increased tragedy to a step higher.