Theatrical practices to elicit political conversation : a comparative study of the techniques of Sophocles and Brecht

Abstract

Theatre has been often used as a means to start political conversations. Numerous playwrights choose to not waste their opportunity of having a platform in front of an audience for the sole purpose of entertainment. Therefore, despite not being the primary intention for all playwrights, political commentary and criticism can easily find its way into a production. As seen in the works of Sophocles and Bertolt Brecht. My main research question during this dissertation is to prove how Sophocles and Brecht used similar techniques in their pursuit to provoke political commentary among their respective audiences. Since both playwrights are from distinctly different periods (Ancient Greece and 20th Century) and they are primarily renowned for their diverse approach towards theatre (tragedy and Epic Theatre, respectively), it is rather unusual to find a study arguing that the two playwrights used the same techniques to achieve a shared outcome. To prove my hypothesis, my main research will focus on the inducement or rejection of catharsis, the theme of morality and the alienation technique, all of which were key elements aimed to elicit a political conversation among the audience and can be commonly noticed within the two playwrights.