Aeschylus:
Aeschylus was born in 525 BC, in the city of Eleusis. According to legend, he began to write tragedies when he was younger because he fell asleep watching grapes ripe. He was asleep, until Dionysus appeared in a dream and ordered him to write tragedies. From then on he began writing tragedies and revolutionizing the way theater was used by adding a second actor. While alive, he wrote five different plays: Oresteia, Prometheus Bound, The Persians, Seven Against Thebes, and the Suppliants. The real controversy that surrounds Aeschylus is about the interpretation of what Zeus' intention was in Prometheus Bound.
Sophocles
Sophocles, an Athenian, was the student of Aeschylus during his childhood. Sophocles was a thinker, a politician, a priest, a war leader, and a singer. This multifaceted man is credited with the creation of over one hundred different plays and most are lost. With this advanced talent of music and the help of Aeschylus, he practically became a master a tragedy writing. Since this man was also a military adviser/general, he also knew how to tug on the hearts of other people with his experience of death and life. Just like he mentor, he also has one main piece of controversy surrounding him; Oedipus Rex.
Euripides
Euripides was the last of the greatest play writers. He took what the two previous men had and added the last tidbit of what a tragedy is. He added something that every person could see eye to eye with; a tragic flaw. This flaw was what got the character in trouble and cause the story to make a turn for the worst. The most common type of flaw was hubris. This meant that the person was overly boastful or full of too much pride. After writing the typical endings that ended up with death or loss, he began to write endings where happiness or a good outcome was achieved.
By: Aaron Beaver
By: Aaron Beaver