Domestic Influences in the Greek and Roman Theaters Essay

Domestic Influences in the Greek and Roman Theaters - Essay Example The Greek and Roman civilizations, which are perhaps two with the most abundant reference resources having extensively recorded their respective eras, do manifest this observation, if, at least, in their literary works alone. Even as both Mediterranean civilizations have expanded the influence of their clout and power, notably the Romans who spread out east to as far as India, the influence of domestic affairs and interests in the Greek and Roman person is evident even in the higher echelons of society and governments. Following is a Greek tragedy and a Roman comedy that very well typify the works of that classical era. From these two classical works, we shall survey influences in the plot, the characters, and the themes that reflect domestic elements, or, better still, to even find these elements central to the stories themselves. The "Antigone is a tragedy by Sophocles written before or in 442 BC. It is chronologically the third of the three Theban plays but was written first."( Fagles, p. 35) The other two plays in the trilogy by Sophocles being Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone proceeds where Seven Against Thebes, which was written much earlier by Aeschylus, leaves off. In the Seven Against Thebes, the two sons of Oedipus, Polynices and Eteocles, find themselves at odds against each other in a civil war over succession to the throne of Thebes which their father Oedipus had to relinquish. The brothers tragically kill each other. The Antigone, this time the story of one of Oedipus' two daughters, Antigone and Ismene, sisters of the brothers who slew each other, begins with sisters Antigone and Ismene discoursing on the older Antogone's decision to bury the body of their brother Polynices despite an edict of King Creon to deny his body honorable burial as the other brother's body, that of Eteocles, be honored. Despite the punishment of death by stoning to anyone who defies the king's command, Antigone prevails over her sister's persuasions and proceeds to cover her brothers body with earth declaring, "I will do my part,-and thine, if thou wilt not,-to a brother. False to him will I never be found." Reminded by Ismene of the consequence, Antigone retorts, "Such be thy plea:-I, then, will go to heap the earth above the brother whom I love." The play proceeds where Creon seeks the support of the Theban Elders who, in the play, are represented by the chorus, particularly to back his edict regarding the disposal of Polynices' body. The Elders pledges their support. Then a Sentry enters with dread to tell the king of the news that Polynices' body had been buried. Furious, the king orders the sentry to find out who did and if he fails, he faces death himself. The Sentry leaves and, after a while, returns with Antigone in tow. Asked by the king, "And thou didst indeed dare to transgress that law" Antigone replies, "I avow it; I make no denial." Creon fumes and swears the king, in his time, will not be prevailed over by a woman thus declares, "While I live, no woman shall rule me." Then assuming that the sister, Ismene, must have had a hand in the act as well, the king summons Ismene who, by now, also tries to confess falsely that indeed she has a hand in it while in truth she did not. Demanded by Antigone to tell the truth and be spared, she answers, "But, now that ills beset

Outsourcing-harm to america Annotated Bibliography

Outsourcing-harm to america - Annotated Bibliography Example Outsourcing has been in practice since the early 1980s and continues to grow among large American corporations. Not only have we seen that it hurts our economy, but is affecting the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is averaging 9.3% in todays market, compared to 5.8% in 2008 and 4.6% in 2007. Since 1986 fifteen million high paying jobs have left the United States and American workers. â€Å"Some industry watchers believe as many as 200,000 service jobs could be lost each year for the next eleven years (Cook, Nyham). According to the data (1999-2009) given by the bureau of labor statistics, United States -- there has been an increase in job loss in the private sector in the last 10 years ("Bureau of labor," 2010). Corporate America is sending jobs oversees so that their companies can save money, not thinking of the impact it has on us as individuals, and our families. Outsourcing is a chain reaction; the more products we outsource, the more factories that are being shut down in American, meaning more American job loss, and the rise of the unemployment rate Jobs are disappearing, wages are falling below inflation, and it is stressful in the workplace because at any moment ones job could be moved. overseas. It is killing American workers faith in their employers and putting a toll on their psychological well-being. We as a nation need to stop buying imported goods, and stop voting on bills that deregulate outsourcing. We need to realize we are the power, and we can make a difference. That in turn will be a step in the right direction. It is well known that United States economy recovered from mild recession in 2001; however, unemployment has risen from 4 % to 6% -- almost 50 percent increase. Well, one thing that is not known widely is that jobs have also been created during this hard period not only in New York City, San Francisco or Michigan – jobs have also been