Greek Civilization Has Impacted - Free Essay Example

Greek civilization has impacted many lives as Americans. From todays society and back then drama and plays still exist which shows a major aspect of greek culture. They are given the up-most credit for drama and theatre. Theatre and acting are still different forms of entertainment just as it is acknowledged in greek civilization. We have learned alot from the greek culture, the Greeks created the first Democracy. In order for a law to be passed, the number of votes needed to be majority. Today, in the United States we use a democracy but it is direct. In Oedipus the King, every man wants a better life for himself. Oedipus wanted it to be known in his society that not only did he have the highest power, but wanted to be looked at as a God. Relating this to many celebrities in todays society they expect to have this kind of power. Many politicians and celebrities forget that they are still regular human beings at the end of the day, they just have others rooting for them, but it doesnt make it right for them to overstep their boundaries. When the plague attacks the city of Thebes everybody looked to Oedipus to fix the problem. The city knows everyone looks up to Oedipus to have a solution because he is king and that is also a common trait in America today. When things go wrong in our society we expect the President to make things right. We dont blame ourselves instead we look up to a higher source and hold them accountable. In todays world we feel as if it is the governments power to care for us and to fix any issue within our society. In Oedipus men are the main decision makers for their society which is still the same in our society. Even though many women have stepped up to the plate and took charge of the political scene, men will always be seen as being more powerful which is their duty. It is seen that woman are suppose to be lady of the house while men is the provider just like Greek culture. In Greece, women could not participate in plays that were written about them, men had to play the role for them. In greek life they wanted to find an answer for everything and it was a reason for every action they made. In Oedipus they sent Creon to Delphi because they wanted him to find out why the plague attacked the city. He wanted to know who killed his father but in fact he was fated to kill his own father and marry his mother. Oedipus then left his imagined parents to avoid following that fate. He wanted Creon executed because Oedipus felt as if he was betraying him but then the Chorus persuades Oedipus to let him live. One thing I have learned from this play is that you cannot escape your fate no matter how hard you try, and that is what Oedipus was trying to do, he wanted to escape and move far away from his family. Society then had a big importance on the principles behind greek civilization and the country was lead by the people. In todays society Oedipus compound is a not common logic which is not seen in normal human development. It is not ordinary for someone to to marry their mother or father then have a child by them. This can all connect back to the modern world, Oedipus could not put his pride to the side, he felt as if he could do and say anything and not a problem with it. Our self-knowledge can sometimes misled by our pride. We may not realize we are doing something wrong if no one speaks up about it. Its hard to imagine any scream movie without an intense, anticipating tone that works up mood. Greeks are responsible for the birth of drama. Its not so common in our society that one would have a sexual feeling towards their parents, or wanting to kill their father for a sexual feeling towards their mother but it could happen. Relating to the movie Cyrus, was about a grown boy who was recognized as a mothers boy was problematic in societys eyes and many seen him as an outcast or odd. In Oedipus it is hard for him and his mother to break away from each other. If it was like that now they would be bashed and hated for having such feeling like that for one another. Just as Oedipus class lowered from royalty to low-class, the plays themselves have become less and less fancier. Nowadays, we watch movies about average, everyday people. Plays are based on historical events. The greeks wanted to make the best out of life and how they should live their life in that society. They stated that if you violate the social standards you will suffer throughout your lifetime. Oedipus is perceived to be a stubborn person, he believed that Tiresias was not telling him the truth and that Creon sent him to lie even though Tiresias proves that he can see the future. Present-day people can also be stubborn, once they have a set feeling on something they are going to stick with how they feel and nothing can change their mind, even if they have a thought of being right or wrong. Oedipus arrogance started showing in this play once he believed that he can become equal to all the other Gods. He was only perishable, and since he saved the city from sphinx he felt as if he was the greatest God. Arrogance is important trait in todays world mostly towards the trendsetters.