The background of the Greek tragedy

 

 Write in brief the background of the Greek tragedy.

 

Ans. If we look back to the distant past, long before the advent of Christ, we will be really astonished to see the height of achievement attained by the Greek poets and playwrights. Another important aspect of the Greek dramas was the subject matter. It was so close to the human feeling that it never failed to turn our attention to history, philosophy, theology and ethics.

 

The aim of tragedy, says Aristotle, is to bring about a "Catharsis" of the spectators-to arouse in them sensation of pity and fear and purge them of these emotions. He also says that a tragedy has six main elements-plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle and music of which the first two are primary.

 

A tragedy is an imitation, not of men, but of action and life, of happiness and misery. Character determines men's qualities; but it is their action that makes them happy or miserable. There cannot be a tragedy without action. The plot, then, is the first principle of a tragedy and character holds the second place.

 

As for the origin of the Greek tragedy a certain Thespis of Icaria (about 536 B.C) first caused tragedy to become a drama, though a very simple one.

 

The Greek lyrical drama has its root in the Dithyrambic hymns sung at the sacred festivals in honour of their god Dionysus. But the real father of tragedy is Aeschylus (525-456 B.C). He was responsible for bringing in several innovations. The most significant of these was the introduction of a second actor. Besides, Aeschylus reduced the size of the Chorus from fifty to just twelve. Pre-Aeschylus drama had little of the intellectual passion that the great master brought to it.