Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex, also known as, Oedipus the King, is a Greek classical play about a murder mystery in which Sophocles emphasizes the irony of a man determined to track down, expose, and punish an assassin, who turns out to be himself.

The play opens with the citizens of Thebes begging their king, Oedipus, to lift the plague that will be destroying the city. Not knowing what to do, Oedipus then sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to visit the oracle to find about what course of action they should take. The oracle then mentions about Laius, the previous king before Oedipus. She explains that if the murderer of Laius is killed, the plague will be lifted. Creon immediately returns and tells Oedipus the oracle’s words; Oedipus takes haste to solve the murder.

After his many efforts to solve the mystery, he then comes to find that his parents weren’t his real parents. He also discovers that he was the murderer of Laius, his true father, and that he has married his own mother, who killed herself before Oedipus knew of the truth. Being tortured and frenzied, he rakes out his own eyes with pins so that he will not see the misery he has caused. The prophecies given to him since he was young became true – he had an incestuous marriage, was blind, had infamy, and wandered about through his life.

Prometheus Bound

Prometheus Bound is also a Greek classical play which is about the Titan, Prometheus, who was bound to a mountain as punishment for giving humans the gift of fire. The play is mostly words with no action, as the story is mainly about Prometheus being in bondage. The writer of the play is unclear, but many point that it was Aeschylus who wrote it.

The play is mostly about Prometheus’ torment while he is bound to a mountain. At the beginning of the play, he is visited by three gods – Hephaestus, Kratos, and Bia – while they argue about his punishment made by Zeus. The three talk for a while, until they leave after reluctantly chaining Prometheus to a mountain.

He is then visited by his cousins, the Oceanids, and later, by Oceanus himself, who plans on pleading to Zeus for Prometheus’ freedom. Prometheus, however, refuses his help saying that Zeus will free him sooner or later as he will need his gift of prophecy to secure his position.

Many visit him, until ultimately, Zeus hears about the taking of his position. The god immediately sends Hermes to ask him who was going to overthrow him. Prometheus refuses to answer, and so, Zeus strikes him with a thunderbolt which causes the mountain to crumble and he plunges down into the abyss. He is then tortured forever, with Zeus making sure that an eagle would come down to eat his liver. What made it worse was that Prometheus’ liver re-grew every night and that the eagle would return each day to torment Prometheus.

Macbeth

Macbeth is a play made in the Renaissance period, which is also known as the era of the Early Modern. The play has been very famous, especially since it has been a requirement of schools in America to study. It was written by William Shakespeare, who also wrote Romeo and Juliet. Like all plays made by Shakespeare, it was derived from the facts of history. The story of Macbeth was based on James I, who symbolized the union of the Scottish and English crowns, a union in which Shakespeare added in his play. Since the king also had an interest in witchcraft, Shakespeare may have tried to win his favor by adding the three witches in his story.

The play opens with the brief appearance of three witches then shifts to a military camp, where Scottish King Duncan hears the news about the victory of his two generals, Macbeth and Banquo. While the two generals were walking, they meet three witches, who gave prophesies to both Macbeth and Banquo. Macbeth was prophesied to be the next king of Scotland while Banquo will beget a line of Scottish kings, though Banquo will never be king himself. Then starts the story of Macbeth killing his own king, King Duncan, and becoming paranoid of losing his throne after being crowned king. He becomes a murderer until finally, a man from Banquo’s line ends his misery.  

Did you know? 

It was believed that kings were chosen by God. This idea was known as the Divine Right of Kings. Kings could do anything they liked and couldn’t be challenged because they were more important than ordinary men and second only to God. Killing a king was a terrible sin. In the play, Macbeth knows this. 

Cymbeline

Cymbeline is a play made in the Renaissance era and written by William Shakespeare. He was born in 1564, in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England.  The author most likely has been the most influential writer in his era, especially noting that most of his plays have been required in American schools to study. Cymbeline is one of Shakespeare’s final plays, along with The Tempest and The Winter’s Tale. Its plot has a striking resemblance to many of the early plays of his day. This theatrical work is mainly about the struggles of Imogen and her husband, Posthumus. It depicts of forgiveness and death, which was always ever-present in stories.

At the beginning of the play, Imogen, the daughter of the British king, Cymbeline, goes against her father’s wishes of marrying a noble man. She instead marries a lowborn gentleman named Posthumus, rather than his stepson, Cloten. Because of this marriage, the king sends Posthumus to exile in Italy, where the prisoner meets a smooth-tongued Italian named Iachimo.

Iachimo argues that all women are unfaithful and wagers with Posthumus that he will be able to seduce Imogen. Having failed to do so, he resolves to trickery and “proves” to Posthumus that he indeed slept with Imogen. He backed his words by describing Imogen’s room and giving the bracelet Posthumus presented to her. Things start going upside down and Posthumus orders Pisanio, his servant, to murder his wife for her unfaithfulness. Not only that, but Cloten also has been pursuing her. Pisiano, out of pity, instructs Imogen to dress as a man and escape while he tells Posthumus that he killed her. Despite of the tragic happenings, the play ends with a happy ending. The villains die and the main characters live.

Goethe's Faust

Goethe’s Faust, a play based on the medieval legend of a man who sold his soul to the devil, is a theatrical work made in the Romantic period. The writer of this play is Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a German writer and statesman who was famous for his poems. The writer was born in August 28, 1749 in the Free City of Frankfurt. The play actually consists of two parts, but emphasis will be given on the first part for this post.

The play starts with a narrative, in which Mephistopheles, the Devil, complains about how the world is in its state – good. He claims that mankind is actually corrupt, and that he delights in the evil and disaster he can make. Mephistopheles then makes a bet with God that he will be able to turn one of His servants, Dr. Faust, over to sin and evil. God then agrees, knowing that Faust will be a faithful follower.

The curtains finally open with Faust sitting in his study while in despair over his life. He feels as if he has come to the end of all knowledge. Books and chemistry no longer define his life for him and he feels empty. He felt like he wanted to die, and so, he prepared a poison that would kill him. Just as he was about to drink it, a chorus of angels appear, announcing that it was Easter day and stops him from continuing the act.

Faust then decides to walk outside his town with Wagner, a fellow scholar. They talk to each other, with mostly Faust speaking about his passion for nature and a higher mode of life, but Wagner cannot fathom it. They soon see the townspeople celebrating Easter by the distance. Although Faust thinks he should be with them, he cannot shake away the depression he feels inside. The people try to comfort him, yet nothing succeeds in cheering him up. As Wagner and Faust return to their homes to continue their studies, a black dog follows Faust to his room. The dog then transforms into Mephistopheles, and the two starts to talk. After a few persuasions, Mephistopheles succeeds in making Faust agree to a wager. The devil promises to serve Faust and to give him a moment of transcendence – in which Faust believes Mephistopheles can never give. If the devil succeeds in giving these things, Faust must then be his servant for the rest of eternity in hell. A lot of tragic events happen after the wager, and it all ends with Faust causing murder, having an affair with a woman, and fleeing with Mephistopheles to keep them from being caught by the authorities.

Hernani

Hernani, also known as Ernani, is a play about three men – two noble men and one mysterious bandit – who fell in love with the same woman. One might think it would be just a cheezy romance where the men fight over the girl, but it’s far from that. They literally fight, and it’s with swords. This play was made in the Romantic period and was written by Victor Hugo, who was one of the most important French Romantic poets, novelists, and dramatists in his time. He is also known for being the one who wrote Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The writer was born in February 26, 1802 in Bensancon, France.

The play opens with Don Carlos, King of Spain, sneaking to the bedroom of Doña Sol. Pathetically, he forces her maid to help conceal him within the room, and shortly, Doña Sol enters to welcome her lover, Hernani. They both talk about their circumstances – Sol is forced to marry her elder uncle, and Hernani is a bandit whose father was executed by the previous king. Realizing their plot, they plan to elope together. Many things happen, until ultimately, it was time for Sol and Hernani to meet at their rendezvous point.

Since Don Carlos knew of their plans to elope (he was hidden in a cabinet in Sol’s room), he decides to go to the rendezvous point, hoping to seduce Sol in Hernani’s place. Sol, however, recognizes him and instantly rejects him. Don Carlos, infuriated, plans to abduct her and the two begin to struggle with each other. Hernani arrives just in time with 60 men and challenges Don Carlos to a duel, which the king refuses as only noblemen could duel. The king then challenges Hernani to murder him, but Hernani could not, and thus, he escapes along with his men after the king sent his soldiers to arrest them.

Hernani ends up going to Silva’s house, the house of the uncle and fiancé of Sol. Surprisingly, Silva takes him in as a guest and gives him hospitality. He even protects him while the king arrives to arrest the bandit. When the king starts to threaten Silva, Sol immediately comes down to intercede. Don Carlos decides to forgive Silva, but abducts Sol. Alone, Silva releases Hernani with the intent of fighting him to the death, but when the bandit learned of Sol’s abduction, he suggests on trying to rescue her. He promises to surrender to Silva and gives him a horn in which if he blows, Hernani will kill himself. Sol then agrees.

After the battle, Hernani reveals that he is John of Aragon, noble, but born in exile. Having change of heart, Don Carlos announces that Hernani will be married to Sol, in which the two accept happily.

Sol and Hernani are married, but as they are enjoying their wedding feast, Silva blows the horn. Remembering his promise, Hernani goes to his room and prepares the poison. As he was about to drink it, Sol enters the room and tries to persuade him not to continue. At his persistence, Sol drinks half of the poison. Hernani then drinks the other half and they die. Silva kills himself after finding about what happened.

The Differences

Greek Period:

• Performed for special occasions
• Comedy and tragedy never mix
• The stories were based on myth or history
• There were choruses. Choruses are a group of three or more people who sing, move, and dance. They were used to set the mood and heighten the dramatic effects.
• Music is often played with the chorus, which was probably a flute
• Three actors were only used
• No effort is given in facial expressions as they wore masks
• The actors were men. Meaning, they played the female roles too

Renaissance:

• The roles were played by professional actors which were men. (Men play female roles too)
• All social classes were able to attend
• Plays were often joint ventures of writer and actor
• Young, apprentice boys played the female parts
• They use hands to express their emotional states or wear flamboyant expressions to show it
• The play would be repeated several times after it had been first staged, then twice a month for the first months, until it gradually fades away
• Representation of madness is always tinted with humour

Romantic Period:

• Appeals more to feelings than mind games
• They tried to make their props as realistic as possible
• Visual over verbal
• Sensational rather than intellectual
• Plays were usually about the equality of the people
• Protagonists were portrayed as rebellious

The Similarities of Greek, Renaissance, and Greek Plays

• They have lessons we can all learn from
• Depicts of man’s characteristics
• They all hired actors in their plays
• Hand gestures were used to show emotion in all eras
• In Greek and Renaissance plays, the actors were all men. No such thing as female actors in those eras.