The Role of Tragedy in Early Greek Legacy Essay Example for Free

The Role of Tragedy in Early Grecian Legacy EssayTragedies have been a big and important part of Hellenic enculturation and history. Hellenic tragedies argon dramas performed before a boastfully audience, usually during festivities of gods, that narrate the story of a hero and all the unusual repugns and sufferings that he has to go by means of and through in order to achieve something or learn an important lesson. Tragedies usually have complex p circularises wherein disasters take chances one after the other and their resolutions reveal important lessons or realizations.These dramas have app arntly started around the fifth century BCE, a pivotal time in Greek history that also marked a lot of their other contributions like democracy. Thespis, known as the father of drama, introduced the idea of one actor performing on stage that started the flourishing of tragic dramas (Greek Tragic Drama). Later on, three master of tragedy emerged namely Aeschylus, Sophocles, and E uripides. Many of the tragedies that have survived from their time were written by these men who made Greek tragedies a real part of literature.But tragedies argon non merely stories popularized just to be performed before an audience. Tragedies serve as an important expression of culture and creativity of Greek club. They ar well back up by the Greek society because tragedies serve as means of reminding the Greeks of the moral lessons values that their culture upholds and believes in. The sustainr of tragedies was in Greece was a really significant timing in history because it was around the time when Greek culture gaining momentum and flourishing. The great surge in creativity catalyzed the concept of the Greek tragedy (Reed 1).It further the creation of dramas with crucial themes by presenting them as one of the upliftedlights of festivities. A tragedy usually depicts the downfall of a noble hero or heroine, usually through some combination of hubris, fate, and the will o f the gods (Tragedy the basics). Heroes are great men and women but remains imperfect humans capable of doing good and committing mistakes. They are not totally good nor totally bad, but they are usually prominent or great than other large number around them. They are also packaged as people destined to get down big transformations in their lives.Tragedies became avenues for the creative minds of playwrights to let their imagination and talent out. In the Greek society, tragedies also consort as lessons in behavior because of the way they incorporate moral teachings into the falsifys of the lives of the heroes (Reed 1). The trials, successes, failures, and losses that the heroes experience serve as effective teaching tools for the Greeks. Tragedies convey different realities and some of the most common themes they present are that actions do not go unpunished, and the gods work in mysterious an often ironic ways (Reed 2).Since the characters of tragedies are not always perfec tly virtuous, they are given certain tasks that challenge and influence the actions they take in their lives. The twists in the plots also give constant reminder of the intertwined quality of human life and the power of the wills of the gods. Tragedies function as manifestations of the reality that life is never perfect for men. They also serve as reminders for Greeks of the different experiences that could possibly take place to a human person, giving them idea what path should one take and what should be avoided.Tragedies are very easy to appreciate despite having heavy themes because they deal with specific instances of life. They revolve around adventures in families, in battles, and in religion. Tragedies usually follow relationships of people with others and with their gods as guides for their plots. Divine presence in everything in this manhood is a very significant character of Greek culture and many tragedies highlight the importance of faith in ones daily life.Tragedies are very important to the Greek society because they give lessons about uprightness and warnings how people should live their life morally by using immense disasters that complicate a heros life. It is not easy being a hero in a Greek tragedy although the hero extremity not die at the end, but he or she must undergo a change in fortune in order to understand and live out the the different virtues of the Greek society (Tragedy the Basics). The goal of every tragedy is to make the audience see what may come out with good values and what are the probable tragic events for every mistake or untimely action.These are specific warnings or reminders about life, about the use of power, and about morality as a part of everyday life. Greek tragedies speak volumes about the lives of those dwelling in this ancient society (Reed 3). They are representations of what was the culture of Greece in its early years. Through their plots, their characters, and the ideals incorporated in their stories , tragedies are able to preserve the culture and beliefs that the Greeks have. Tragedies have a unique way of teaching and passing on knowledge to people through the presentations on the stage.The Greeks responded so well to this approach because their core values are being addressed in a way that enables everyone to participate (Reed 3). Performed art was very close to the hearts of this creative and rich nation. unequivocal Greek drama was a community art, not a business venture and the dramatists are regarded with high importance in their society (Greek Tragic Drama). Tragedies serve the effective purpose of educating people about examples of moral actions, cleansing of souls, and other related religious and virtuous beliefs. Another significance of these tragedies is that they hold up the Greeks together as one society.Tragedies are affairs that serve as a community aggregation largely sponsored by the government(Reed 1). Presentations usually take a form of contests and hav e emerged to become yearbook events in Ancient Greece. Large venues are allotted for them because performance of tragedies fostered a sense of community amongst the Greek peopleand every citizen in the society are expected to witness them. Therefore, performances of tragedies gather thousands of people together to performances that entertain and educate, effectively passing on of political and religious messages promoted in Greek culture.Although very entertain and usually presented in festivals, tragedies were not intended only for entertainment purposes only for they also unit the Greeks as one community. With so many individuals, ranging from prominent politicians to peasants, a tragedy was something all people could share (Reed 3). In a theater where tragedies are performed, people from different classes, educated or not educated, men and women, are all given the chance to appreciate and witness the tragic dramas.And through these events, people learn much about the roles of t heir government, their communities, and their religion in their lives. Tragedies are considered very important and significant in Greek society. Indeed, they are capable of making people more responsible in their roles in their communities and more respectful of their gods. Greek tragedies are also expressions of devotion to their gods because they describe the important role that gods play in the lives of humans. Today, a lot of tragedies still prevails and recognized as some of the most important contributions of the Greek civilization to people.They were elaborately back up by the Greek society because of the benefits they were able to share in making their community educated, prosperous, and peaceful. Tragedies usually challenge ideas of too much pride, injustice, foolishness, and other human flaws. They encourage knowledge and moral living. Tragedies present frank and explicit examples of what happen to people who question the powers of gods or the intentions of the governmen t. Because of this, they are able to nurture a citizenship well cognisant of the purpose and significance of their culture.Works Cited Greek Tragic Drama. Memphis University School. n. d. Web. 20 July, 2010. Retrieved from http//faculty. musowls. org/Sheltont/Literature/HO(gtd). htm. Reed, Sloane. The Critical Role Greek Tragedies Played in Greek Society. Associated Content. com 13 Nov. 2008. Web. 20 July 2010. Retrieved from http//www. associatedcontent. com/article/1180307/the_critical_role_greek_tragedies_played_pg3. html? cat=37. Tragedy the Basics. epic Valley State University. 2008. Web. 20 July 2010. Retrieved