A peep into classical Greek LITERATURE
K S Sivakumaran
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Herodotus
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Euripides |
Last week an error occurred in referring to the ply Ion by Euripides.
A typographical error read it as Icon. Regret for this mistake.
This week let us get introduced to one other play - The Bacchae.
Please read the plays yourself or search for more information on the
Internet. In the brief space available we can comment or include
comments by the critics for more elucidation.
The tragedy is based on the mythological story of King Pentheus of
Thebes and his mother Agauë, and their punishment by the god Dionysus
(who is Pentheus' cousin) for refusing to worship him. Please read more
about the plot characterization and other aspects of the play.
Critics said that Bacchae was a recantation marking Euripides’
acceptance of the Nature-Worship aspects of the Dionysus cult. If so the
play can still be interpreted as a warning against excess.
In this a sort of sinister play Euripides seem to have attempted to
condemn religious excesses and at the same time accept the myth of a man
who died for disappearing of religious excess.
In this drama Euripides was also an acute observer of Nature As a
half-man, half-God Dionysus is exasperating in his divine self-
suffering as a symbol of certain aspects of brute nature he was
terrifying.
The cult of Dionysus spread through out western Asia, but it had not
yet ginned a foothold in Europe. Dionysus decided that Thebes’s house of
his ancestors would be the logical place for its beginning of his cult
in the west.
Father of Modern History
Since history is an art of inquiry, critics say that Herodotus was
the father of modern history. In History selection of a period
facilitates comprehensiveness than covering extended periods. This
depends on the sources and materials available. Herodotus selected an
important period –the Persian Wars. He interpreted the period in terms
of a philosophy.
Herodotus was more influenced by the Epic poets than the mere
chroniclers. Atmosphere was important for Herodotus. Although he created
an atmosphere sometimes he got lost himself. He described how the mighty
Persians were defeated.
Euripides
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A scene from the Bacchae |
Critics noted that Euripides was the most modern of the classical
Greek tragedians, realistic in outlook, lyrical in his expressions,
concerned with details of experience but lacking a fine sense of
structure that Sophocles and Aeschylus often exhibited.
Tragedy and comedy-differences
In fragments tragedy has the following features: Main involvement
with social forces. It occurs because of some folly, evil, and blindness
to reason. It takes place with free will unanswerable. Cause and
Effect-but man is but man is not a mere puppet. There is tension.
The essence of the tragedy is not necessarily in the end. It is
wonderful. Imaginative. Ethical. Typically with symbols. Basic design of
the individual. Death and Suffering. Choice between Good and Evil. Noble
and handsome.Soliloquies. Aristocratic. Paradox. Superhuman.
Features of comedy
In fragment Comedy has such features: Broadest possible view of life,
The Probable, Reason, Social Manners, Concept, Society and Politics,
Sex, Manners of Society ,Conformity, Ugly, Aside, Bourgeois, Contrast
and Sub-human.
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