Summary of Greek Theatre

Drama represented the peak of Greek civilization and has remained a big influence for the Western tradition. The nature of Greek drama is known a religious ritual that mostly consists of songs by a chorus. The subject matter is about traditional religious myths. This drama is divided into three great tragic plays.
A.    Aeschylus
This person, born near Athens in 528 B.C. is the first playwright who wrote play about satire (comedy about saty). Then he is considered as the founder of Greek tragedy. Also, he is known for introducing individual actors and dramatic dialogue, adopting stage costum and special effects. His themes is grand and solemn, and the language is vivid. To be a lyric poet, his style is unsurpassed.
B.    Sophocles
Sophocles lived in greatest years of Athenian Prosperity and through its defend in the Peloponnesian war. The number of plays he wrote was more than Aeschylus did but there was only seven remaining. Sophocles is regarded as the founder of the ‘tragic hero’ concepts. Oedipus rex is likely the most influential play ever written. The introduction of a third actor and greater exploitation of scenery are the results of his works. He gave up the tradition of compiling plays as part of trilogy. The human will was given a greater chance rather than the God will. Though neither a politician nor a soldier, the fame brought him high office in Athens, and after his death at the age of 90, he was recognized as semi-divine.
C.    Euripides
Euripides, born in 430 B.C. was a less cheerful and more reclusive figure than Sophocles.
His work is at least 80 plays, of which 18 have survive more or less impaired.it is closer to everyday life, more controversial. His lyric verse is morw charming than grand in the manner of Aeschylus. His plays tends to show the grip of powerful and conflicting passions, then his language is more natural, less high flown. More than Aeschylus, Euripides excelled in portraying the women, a heroin or of villains. Like his two great predecessors before, Euripides came in for some amusing mockery in the hands of Aristophanes.