Euripides and the Development of Greek Tragedy

Abstract

This chapter describes an important thesis regarding Euripides' development of tragedy. In most respects, the difference between Sophocles and Euripides is best seen as a matter of degree. Euripides is more open to philosophical and sophistic ideas, but these forces at work in the larger society leave their mark on Sophoclean tragedy too. The chapter discusses two perspectives: one within which Euripides mostly appears to continue established practices, gradually introducing carefully chosen innovations as any Greek poet was expected to do; and another within which his innovations cumulatively convey a distinctive artistic personality and a range of possible meanings that had never been seen before. Euripides is master of the slight added twist with far-reaching consequences. To begin with language, and with dialogue, Euripides is rightly held to have prized clarity of expression. He is in general less willfully enigmatic than Aeschylus and less syntactically adventurous than Sophocles.

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