@e.mccormick
Why do heroes in classical Greek tragedies often end up suffering?

A. Because their enemies are angry
B. Because they are unlucky
C. Because they fall victim to cruel gods
D. Because they make bad decisions

Question

@e.mccormick 
Why do heroes in classical Greek tragedies often end up suffering?

 		A.	Because their enemies are angry
 		B.	Because they are unlucky
 		C.	Because they fall victim to cruel gods
 		D.	Because they make bad decisions

e.mccormick · Answer

So, which do you think?

e.mccormick · Answer

Short bit on them: http://faculty.musowls.org/Sheltont/Literature/HO%28TragicHero%29.htm Definition at end: http://faculty.gvsu.edu/websterm/Tragedy.htm

e.mccormick · Answer

I watched Oedipus Rex, two versions.  It really defines the tragedy pretty well.  

This guy (Oedipus) is supposed to have been killed as a baby because of a prophecy that he will kill his own father.  That father, in fear of death, his his own son "killed."  However, the man sent off to kill him chickens out at killing a baby and abandons Oedipus in the wild with his ankles pierced.  Well, someone else hears the screaming baby and takes it home. Oedipus grows up and hears from the Oracle of Delphi (Priestesses of Apollo) that he is destined to murder his father and marry his mother.  This prediction enrages him so he runs off to go far from home.  While on the run some guy on a chariot insults Oedipus and it enrages him, so he slaughters the group.  Then he finally makes it to this city where their king is recently dead... having been killed on some trip (ahem.)  The city is being terrorized by a Sphinx and Oedipus answers the riddle that drives off the creature.  The people are so amazed they crown him the new king (Rex) and as a bonus make the old queen his wife.  They have kids.  All of this comes out in the body of the play as the murder of the old king comes to be the source of a curse.  Oedipus Rex learns that in his rage he killed the old king, his father, and in his pride over being able to escape a prophecy he married his mother and made it come true.  He tears out his own eyes after his wife/mother commits suicide and leaves the city.

Nasty stuff, but that is tragedy.  Now, what one (or two) of those does that seem to sound like?

anonymous · Answer

d

e.mccormick · Answer

yah.  They also fall victim to the whim of gods, but usually because the gods want to show the how bad their pride is.  So bad choices is the best choice....  LOL!

e.mccormick · Answer

And no comment on that "happy" story of Oedipus Rex?

anonymous · Answer

lol sorry

e.mccormick · Answer

Hehe.  Some of those Greek stories are pretty disturbing.  But you can always say, "It is all Greek to me!"