Introduction
Sophocles is a contemporary of the golden age of Athens; his writings reflect the ideals of polis democracy. These are the political equality and freedom of all full-fledged citizens, selfless service to the motherland, respect for the gods, and the nobility of people’s aspirations. Independence in their decisions and readiness to take responsibility for their actions form the basis of the normativity of Sophocles’ heroes. Family values, the role of society, and the democratic impulse are the qualities that Sophocles endows his heroes with despite the monarchical and aristocratic framework.
Discussion
A specific sum of permanent qualities distinguishes the dramatist’s tragic hero. First of all, belonging to the royal house, he is a nobleman who does not, in any situation, betray the high moral standards inherent in him by nature. Intransigence toward his enemies and toward himself, indomitable determination to achieve his goals, honesty, and fidelity to his word are characteristics of all true tragic heroes of Sophocles, especially in the Oedipus cycle. However, one should not forget that the playwright also witnessed the devastating Peloponnesian War, which provided many examples of the manifestation of human nature in a very different direction than the aristocratic concept of valor demanded. Betrayal, treachery, greed, and extortion took a back seat to nobility and basic decency. The trends of the time could not help but be reflected in the problems of choice faced by the playwright’s characters.
The social and individual experiences of the Athenians during the war made them exceptionally responsive to the raising of moral issues. The transformation of the author’s views and, accordingly, the evolution of the value status of honesty was influenced primarily by the historical realities of a particular period. In the tragedies of Sophocles, we can conventionally distinguish four variants of conflict resolution by the hero: from the absolute rejection of cunning and deceit to their justification.
The second variant of conflict resolution, truth – lie is described in the later tragedy of the playwright – “King Oedipus”, referring to the time of setting to 429-426 B.C., i.e. the initial period of the Peloponnesian War. Oedipus Rex embodies Greek tragedy’s basic meaning and fundamental message. Above all, it is an intellectual experience correlated with experiences of all kinds, from religious and literary to political. Moreover, the more closely these different meanings interact, the more successful and influential their meaning is and the more potent their effect.
Essentially all of the characters are drawn into the conflict that unfolds in the tragedy. Still, it is crucial to understand that this is not a conflict of persons, but a conflict of principles, of ideas. At the same time, the analysis of the protagonists and the position taken by each of them in the conflict makes it possible to reveal its main component, to clarify its essence. In the course of the action, each of the tragedy’s main characters expresses his understanding of what is happening, his attitude toward it, and the nature of his participation in it.
In Antigone, for example, throughout the drama, the hero declares and irreconcilably defends his right to fulfill his filial duty towards his dead brother. He wishes to bury his body with all the traditional ceremonies, which contradicts the decree of Creonte, which forbids burying a traitor to the fatherland. From the very beginning, Creon publicly declares his determination to consistently defend the interests of the state, which for him, as a king, have an absolute priority over all other values, not excluding the interests of his own family. Thus, it is only in this work that the author demonstrates all elements, from family values to democracy, particularly vividly.
Conclusion
Sophocles’ Oedipus “represents a focal point in which the most diverse and often contradictory views of ancient Greek tragedy are concentrated precisely. Oedipus is considered its exemplary representative, the bearer of its primary attributes and characteristic features. As a result, many prejudices have accumulated around it, but the author’s position on the values of family, society, and democracy remains quite evident.