A Research On The Social Function Of Athenian Tragedy

Aeschylus was one of the most brilliant tragic playwright in ancient Greece,Engels had called him “a poet with intense tendency”,Besides the high literary value,Aeschylean tragedies also concerned with the thoughts of historical reality,thus they are considerably valuable for the research of ancient Greek history.There are three chapters beside the introduction and conclusion:The introduction discusses mainly the purpose and significance of this topic as well as the research status of the relevant contents at home and abroad.The first chapter illustrates the creation background of Aeschylean tragedies.Firstly,it investigates the development and prosperity of Athenian democracy in the era of Aeschylus,it was democracy that provided good political conditions for the creation of Aeschylus;Secondly,it analyses the much attention which Athenian polis gave to tragedy creation;Again,it analyses the interaction between Athenian tragic playwright and polis,the plays of Athenian tragic playwright complied with the will of polis authorities to some extant;Finally,it discusses the realism of Athenian tragedy,Athenian tragedy is an ingenious combination of the myth and reality.The second chapter discusses the “tendency” of Aeschylus.On the political conception,Aeschylus supported democracy and objected to tyrant autocracy and tyranny,and related the destruction of royal family with the salvation of polis.On the legal conception,the law in Aeschylus' s heart is characterized as follows: linked to the divine,but inescapably human;aspiring to objectivity,but finding subjectivity unavoidable;shaping the future,but tied irrevocably to the past;predominantly male,but stressing female effect;following the cadence of reason,yet also the rhythm of terror.On the female conception,Aeschylus affirmed the importance of femininity in the law,but regarded the subordinate status of female in the society as one condition of democracy.Besides,in the Oresteia,Aeschylus expressed his advocation to aristocratic relationships,affirmed the importance of aristocratic relationships.In the Eumenides,Aeschylus expressed the approval of the alliance between Athens and Argos,but emphasized Argive unilateral obligation toward Athens.The third chapter reviews the social function of Aeschylean tragedies.Aeschylean tragedies not only possessed entertainment function,but also educated Athenian citizens in the culture,politics,Patriotism and other aspects,they helped citizens to develop their life and value views,reinforced their identity and promoted the cohesion of polis,they also enhanced the influence of Athens in Greece.