Sophocles and "Antigone"

Essay # 2330

Drama and Theater
History > Greek and Roman
Philosophy > Ancient Greek

A discussion of the use and role of mythology in Ancient Greece with emphasis on Sophocles a Greek dramatist, and a discussion of his play "Antigone."

2,000 words () | 7 sources | 2001

Paper Summary:

An analysis of the use of mythology by Sophocles. The author discusses the use of myths in Ancient Greece to define gods and their laws, showing the terrible consequences of disobeying them and forming the structure of society and politics. The author discusses Sophocles, a Greek dramatist and his use of myths and religious rituals. Included is an analysis of Sophocles' play "Antigone".

From the Paper:

"Unlike his contemporaries, Sophocles based his tragedies on human actions and reactions, rather than on divine influence. He does not, however, ignore the gods or say they do not play a role. He uses them to show the human limits and possibilities. The Sophoclean gods thus are placed in the background of the plot, influencing it but not interfering in the course of action Greek dramatists often based their plots on myths, which are believed to reflect the national identity and various historic periods. Besides serving as lyric entertainment stories, myths were used to persuade and enlighten citizens in matters of politics, religion, and customary rituals (Bremmer, 58)."