Where Democracy and Greek Tragedy Collide

by Rian Jasmine Quiban

The play Antigone, by Sophocles, raises the theme of power struggles in the government as it specifically relates to ancient Greek democracy. I wanted to learn more about how the role of theater sparked social change and how drama influenced Athens, which is often described as the West’s first democratic state.

My research brought me to the conclusion that the birth of Athenian democracy and Greek tragedy was very much intertwined. When democracy first emerged in Greece, the rise of drama and theater came with it. By the end of the fifth century BCE, over 1000 tragedies had been produced in Athens. A cultural wave had overcome the people, and citizens engaged in the theater just as much as they engaged in politics. Often times, the tragedies performed were allegorical to the current political climate of Athens. In turn, the people would engage in deeper conversations about the state after viewing the plays. In some sense, the theater became a tool for citizens to prepare for democracy. 

My research offered me great insights into how Antigone functions as an allegory for the turmoil in Athens. I learned how interconnected politics and the theater were, and I dove into how the struggles present in Greek tragedies can be applied to the struggles seen in our democracy today.

Works Cited

Bakewell, Geoffrey W. “Tragedy as Democratic Education.” Administrative Theory & Praxis (Taylor & Francis Ltd), vol. 33, no. 2, June 2011, pp. 258–267. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2753/ATP1084-1806330205.

Chou, Mark. “Democracy in an Age of Tragedy: Democracy, Tragedy and Paradox.” Critical Horizons, vol. 11, no. 2, June 2010, pp. 289–313. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1558/crit.v11i2.289.

Chou, Mark. “Postmodern Dramaturgy, Premodern Drama: The Global Resurgence of Greek Tragedy Today.” Journal for Cultural Research, vol. 15, no. 2, Apr. 2011, pp. 131–152. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/14797585.2011.574053.