Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, teperik@mail.ru
The theme of power is one of the priorities for both the ancient Greek epic and tragedy, since almost all the main characters here are kings, that is, representatives of power. Therefore, one of the key motives is the motive of power, both the disposal of this power and its preservation. This motif is very prominent in the tragedies of Sophocles. The tragedy Elektra is indicative in this respect, the main character of which, Princess Elektra, opposes the murderers of her father, the new king and his wife, the mother of the princess herself. Since the power of these new kings, who seized the throne as a result of a crime, is not legitimate, they are worried about the possible loss of power, which manifests itself even in the images of the queen’s disturbing dream, for which she is trying to find a positive meaning. However, the further development of the plot refutes this meaning, demonstrating the inability of the character, seized by such fear, to perceive true reality.
tragedy; power; motive; character; image; king; meaning; crime
Download textFor citing: Teperik T.F. (2022). The motifs of power in ancient Greek tragedy (based on on Sophocles’ Elektra). Human being: Image and essence. Humanitarian aspects. Moscow: INION RAN. Vol. 3(51): Power of literature – writer and authorities, pp. 154-170. DOI: 10.31249/chel/2022.03.03