Literary Analysis of Greek Tragedies - What You Need to Know

Literary Analysis of Greek Tragedies - What You Need to KnowLiterary analysis is something that can really come in handy when you're working on a paper topic. Unlike general analytical essay topics, there are some important literary themes and patterns that can help you become better at your craft. By taking some time to look at some of the most famous examples of Greek tragedies, you can make your paper topic seem more genuine.One of the most important literary themes in Greek tragedies involves themes of political manipulation and power. The author Antigone was a politician who lived during the fifth century B.C. In many ways, her story is similar to stories about politicians of our own time.In Greek tragedies, the characters are usually presented as narrating events from the point of view of either a third person or first person perspective. As with modern politicians, the Greek author Antigone, was presented as a ruthless opponent to the very real king of Erech. Though she doesn' t appear to be a true monster by today's standards, she's portrayed as a master manipulator of others. This is seen through the words of her father, the god of death, who regularly names Antigone as 'son of deceit' and has her murdered. As an unapologetic trickster, he repeatedly brings up this theme over the course of the novel, asking her if she is trying to mislead him.One of the reasons why so many students struggle to apply this kind of pattern is that they have trouble identifying the role that a character plays in their story. They often interpret the characters' actions through a filter of their own imagination, not the same one that they have when they are told the story from a third-person perspective. When you remember that these patterns are built upon and pull together a number of the more prominent themes, you will be able to incorporate them into your own story.In literary analysis, this is just one of the ways that certain themes overlap. Take a look at the following two events: either character will feel confident that the other one is manipulating them to bring about the outcome they want. Both may be working toward the same goal, but it's important to remember that their actions are not dependent upon each other.Most of us associate Shakespeare with some terrible ideas about people being selfish. But in fact, the character Macbeth, played by Michael Gambon, was working to gain his own goals and persuade King Duncan to take a more passive approach to ruling the kingdom. He certainly didn't wish to 'dishonor' the king and had no idea that Duncan had any of his own.Greek tragedies were a powerful example of how to avoid this kind of mistake. The ghost of Clytemnestra, a gladiator, is seen using a prostitute to try to convince the husband of his own wife to commit suicide. In a later scene, we see this ghost uses the same woman to convince her husband to leave her and marry the ghost of his friend, who has been neglected by the latter for a long time.Because Greek tragedies contain many other major themes, including politics, history, art, and class, they have been a popular topic for many teachers, students, and scholars. With literary analysis, you'll be able to add even more interesting and meaningful themes into your own paper topics.