Pros and cons of the theory of ritual origins
According to the theory of ritual origins, the theatre was initially a part of religious rituals that were mostly aimed at describing the natural forces which could not be controlled by human beings. The main advantage of the framework is that it helps to explain why so many playwrights chose to include supernatural beings or even deities in their works. This issue is particularly relevant if one speaks about ancient Greek theatre. Secondly, this theory can be useful for analyzing the main characters’ struggle against these deities. Yet, this model has some limitations. For instance, it cannot fully explain the impact of the story-telling traditions on the development of theatre.
How might this theory help understand the opening sequence of Oedipus?
The opening sequence of Oedipus can be explained with the help of ritual origins theory. In particular, Oedipus sees people, who are struggling with plague and famine, and they beg him for his assistance since in the past, Oedipus once saved Thebes. By using the ritual origins theory, one can argue that this scene explores the conflict between a human being and the forces that are beyond his/her control. Ancient people could perceive these forces as the wrath of gods and goddesses.
More importantly, the protagonist should be viewed as a person who challenges these forces. Overall, the actor, who plays the part of Oedipus, should portray him as a firm and resolute individual. Moreover, it is necessary to show that he does not want to give way to fear or panic.
Purposes of playing
There are several goals that playing may achieve. First, one can say that it is supposed to reflect ethical virtues and vices existing in a society. Secondly, it should offer moral instructions that can show how a person can make his/her moral choices under certain circumstances. Additionally, playing has to be entertaining and engage the audience. These are some of the main objectives that can be identified.
Purposes of playing in Aristophanes’ works
Aristophanes’ works were primarily supposed to highlight the vices of society and ridicule them. In turn, Aeschylus tried to describe the ethical universe in which his characters lived and show how conflicting this world is. In turn, Euripides strived to describe the experiences of an individual who could not understand or accept the injustice of society. These are some of the different views that can be considered. On the whole, Euripides’ position seems to be favored more.
The most important purposes of playing today
Overall, one can say that the main goal of playing today is to describe how an individual responds to challenges posed by the outside world. This approach enables playwrights or film-directors to throw light on the moral choices that this person takes. Additionally, in this way, it is possible to engage the audience and make empathize with the characters. Finally, this method helps the author to develop the narrative of the play. This is why this particular goal is often chosen.
One can mention such a movie as The Shawshank Redemption to illustrate this idea. This film tells the story of a person who was unjustly convicted of homicide. Furthermore, the viewers can learn more about the protagonist, only when he is confronted with great challenges. The struggles of the main character and his eventual victory are the things that make this film very fulfilling.