History
In the past month we were talking about Greek theater. The beginning of the Greek Ancient theater has started 700 BC in Athens. First festival was called by `City Dionysia`. Men were honoring the god Dionysus by performing plays. People used to perform plays only during the Dionysia festival. Normally, same person was responsible for actors, directors and dramatists. Later on, only 3 actors were allowed to perform in each play. After a while a few non-speaking actors could do some physical theater acting on stage. A big part of the plays was Chorus. It was a group of dressed up men standing up in the orchestra (dancing floor) for the whole duration of play. Their job was to comment actors actions and speeches. One of the main things in Greek theater was music. Often it had been played because of limited number of actors on stage.
Most likely, majority of Greek tragedies are based on mythology or history background with the meaning of life. Basically, tragedy (tragiodia- tragos and ode) means "goat song". People were dancing round the goats which were sacrificed as a prize.
- Normally, tragedies used to begin with a prologue that tells a bit of the play and what will happen.
- Next part is called parodos which Chorus is responsible for.
- First episode, first stasimon introduces with characters, exposition and mood.
- More episodes.
- Finally, comes the exodus scene-last scene where all character and chorus leaves the stage.
Playwrights
Well- known playwrights of Ancient Greek Theater were Sophocles, Aeschylus, Euripides, Aristophanes. All of them have written many plays but only few of them have survived by now. Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides were renowned in 5th century BC.
First of all three most known Greek theater playwrights. Was born near Athens in 525 BC, died 456 BC. He grew up during the Hippias exaltation, dictator and beginning of democracy in Athens. He was a soldier, participated in Persian Wars. His brother died fighting in battle. He wrote around 70-90 plays. Most known are tragic trilogy of Oresteia including plays Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides.
Sophocles
Born in near Athens in 496 BC, died 406 BC. He was well-known at that time in Athens.Had two sons. He was an actor but could not continue this career because of problems with his voice. Sophocles first came up with idea of third actor on stage. He wrote over 100 plays. Most known of them are Antigone, Electra and Oedipus The King. My classmates are working on the pieces from Antigone and Oedipus The King. Both are tragedies. As he was very talented, he won first place in festival in 468 BC.
Euripides born 485 BCE in Athens, died 406 BCE of age 79. He was born and grew up in Athens in wealthy family. His wife name was Melito and he had 3 children, all of them were boys.Probably as most that time dramatist and playwrights he participated in God Dionysus festival. He won, met many famous philosophers such as Socrates and Protagoras, and had a large library. Later on he`s got an invitation from king of Macedonia to live and write over there. He accepted and moved to Macedonia. He died 2 years later in Macedonia. He was one of the best Greek theatre writers and poets so his plays were recopied many times and are still used by now.
He has written approximately 90 plays but only 19 of them have survived. Genre of the plays: 18 tragedies and only 1 drama. His most succeeded plays were Medea, The Trojan Women, The Bacchae, Hippolytus and Alcestis. We are working on two tragedies at college which are Medea and The Trojan Women. I`m doing the scene from The Trojan Women play. I found it really interested to me because of it`s dramatic story that tells a lot about history. For example, life, war and pain people were suffering from at that time. He wrote The Trojan Women during the Pelopennesian War (431-404 B.C.).
Aristophanes
It is still a mystery where and when he was born. He was a famous Greek comic writer. According to scientist he is from prosperous family. Aristophanes are the writer of 40 plays which only 11 of them have survived. Few of his most succeeded plays are called The Acharnians and The Knights. He was the main character named Cleon of his second play. Performing this play he won first place in festival. Mostly he wrote about politic`s life in Athens at this time.
Themes
Themes of The Trojan Women are war, horror, men`s power and importance, children`s and women`s humiliation.
Horror of War - this is the main theme of the play. All men are killed. Women as slaves are taken away by the Greeks. Hecuba, the dethroned queen, becomes a servant to Odysseus, the Greek warrior, in his house. Cassandra is to be a slave to of Agamemnon. Astyanax, the son of Andromache and Hector, is killed as well as Polyxena sacrificed for Acillis tomb.
Revenge - Cassandra had been raped. Because of that Athens wants a revenge against Greeks. Helen, wife to Menelaus,the king if Greeks, is about to be killed by her husband. He is supported by Trojan Women. According to them she caused all the troubles.
Hope - Hecuba believes that there is always a good way. Does not matter what, she always has a hope.
Fear - After Greek won against Troy nobody know what will happen next. Where Trojan women will go, who do they need to slave to, what country, what people will be over there. Women are scared of obscurity.
In my own opinion, all this information will help me to become under the skin of Hecuba`s character. I researched about the play thoroughly and now understand more about life at this time. Women did not have no rights. Nobody cared if you were a queen or married woman. Men were equal gods. I found Hecuba as a really strong character person. Regardless Troy is destroyed and seems there are no hopes left, she finds a light. How strong woman has to be to have willingness after everything has happened. Emotions takes over her but she tries to keep it inside.
As a professor of psychology once said J. 
