To do this assignment, first read Sophocles' Antigone. You must refer to the page numbers in the Corrigan edition, which is available as a PDF on iLearn.
The Classical Athenians invented tragedy at the same time as they invented democracy. Just a coincidence? I think not.
Democracy happens when two people representing different sides of an issue get up on a platform and give opposite arguments to an audience. The audience may be sympathetic to one side or the other, and in the end each person can only vote for one side or the other, but it’s important that both sides get to make their case.
Sophocles’ Antigone, like many ancient tragedies, comes down to two people representing different sides of an issue, who get up on a platform and give opposite arguments to an audience. You, the audience, may be sympathetic to one side or the other, but you are open to hearing from the other side before making your final decision.
I think the Athenians invented tragedy to help them practice being open-minded and hearing from all sides in real life. The more complicated the mythological problem could be, the better the political training would be.
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