OPPapers.com Essay Index >> Book Reports >> Cliff Notes - Oedipus Trilogy
We have many free term papers and essays on Cliff Notes - Oedipus Trilogy. We also have a wide variety of research papers and book reports available to you for free. You can browse our collection of term papers or use our search engine.
Cliff Notes - OEDIPUS TRILOGY BARRON'S BOOK NOTES SOPHOCLES' OEDIPUS TRILOGY The Athens that Sophocles knew in the fifth century B.C. was a curious place. By modern
Submitted by choklit on February 13, 2006
Category: Book Reports
Words: 25140 | Pages: 101
Views: 445
Popularity Rank: 27,835
Average Member Grade: N/A (Add a Comment / Grade this Paper)
BARRON'S BOOK NOTES
SOPHOCLES'
OEDIPUS TRILOGY
The Athens that Sophocles knew in the fifth century B.C. was a curious place. By modern standards it was a small and uncomfortable city. There was no running water, no central heating, and no adequate transportation. The average Athenian was poorly paid, uneducated, and probably would rather watch athletic contests than go to the theater.
Yet, amazingly, fifth-century Athens became a fountainhead of Western civilization in the study of history, architecture, sculpture, philosophy, and drama. No one can really explain why all this happened in that city at that time--unless it was because the Athenians' enormous spirit and energy led them to explore their world with a keen eye and an open mind. Like the early American settlers, the Athenians were a proud, independent, and fierce people who resisted any attempts to enslave them. Having fought off invasions by the Persian Empire from the east, and by others from the south, they were fired with a sense of patriotism and self-confidence. They knew their city was the dominant city in Greece.
Athens was an autonomous city-state, or polis, like most of the cities in ancient Greece. It had adopted a form of government that helped it survive the chaotic times of foreign invasions--a kind of democracy that encouraged open assembly of all nonslave male citizens, and gave equal rights to them, much as today's New England town meetings do. Local officials were elected to office and served until they were defeated in another election by another opponent. Sophocles himself was twice elected to a government position and served with distinction in the armed forces. This democracy, however, wasn't quite as enlightened as it sounds. Women and slaves weren't allowed any voice in government. Sophocles was a member of the ruling class, but he could see that the system wasn't perfect.
The small population and the...
You must Login to view the entire paper.
If you are not a member yet, Sign Up for free!