Classical Greek Dramatists [continued] [– Sophocles]}[14th February 1991]

[Redbook8:252][19910214:1610b]{Classical Greek Dramatists [continued] [– Sophocles]}[14th February 1991]

19910214.1610

[continued]

‘The typical Sophoclean drama presents a few characters impressive in their determination* and power** and possessing a few strongly drawn qualities or faults that combine with a particular set of circumstances to lead them inevitably to a tragic fate. Sophocles develops his characters’ rush*** to tragedy with great economy, concentration,*** and dramatic effectiveness, creating a coherent, suspenseful situation whose sustained and inexorable onrush**** came to epitomise the tragic form to the classical world. Sophocles emphasises that most people lack wisdom,# and he presents truth#* in collision with ignorance, delusion and folly.#** Many scenes dramatise flaws or failures in thinking (deceptive reports and rumours,#*** false optimism, hasty judgement, madness). The chief character does something involving grave error; this affects others, each of whom reacts in his own way, thereby causing the chief agent to take another step towards ruin – his own and that of others as well.’

*S~

**A~?

[or M~?]

***S~ (eg T.VII)

***C→S~

****(cf T.VII again)

#r~

#*C

#**A~?

#***A~

#****– ibid [Encyclopaedia Britannica 20]: 392-3

[& See [Redbook8:241-242][19910208:1520g]{Greek Literature [continued (7)] [– Tragedy [continued (4)]: Sophocles]}[8th February 1991]]

[continued]

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