Essay: Comparing Greek and Renaissance Theatre: Greek Rules Vs. Shakespearean Excitement in “Oedipus”

Renaissance Theatre was heavily influenced by Greek Theatre in regard to the rules and methods used in their plays. Even though both periods are similar, such as having no scenery and all actors being male etc. There are also many differences regarding the motives behind the performances and what was shown on stage. Greek Theatre honored tradition and focused on religious aspects the people believed in during that time. They did not show violence in front of the audience and there were no subplots. Renaissance Theatre on the other hand, was business centered and focused on entertaining the audience by showing brutality and including witty jokes. It was considered a guilty pleasure and performed in a way to please everyone. If William Shakespeare wrote the famous greek play “Oedipus,” it would have been more exciting due to the plays duration time, and the violence and subplots that would have been include.
William Shakespeare was one of the many influential authors of Renaissance Theatre, if not the most. His most popular works include “Romeo and Juliet,” “Julius Caesar,” and “Macbeth.” Which were all tragedies that consist of gruesome acts, such as suicide and murder. They also had many time changes and subplots. Unlike Greek Theatre, masks and chorus were not necessities, but they would be used if needed. The plays started during daylight and lasted till night. It would get darker as the sun would set, literally and metaphorically. The Queen would also be present, so the writers had to be careful of what moral the story was going to present. Most important difference was the intense brutality shown in front of the audience. For example, in “Julius Caesar,” the protagonist gets stabbed numerous times on stage one by one by the conspirators. Another example would be the fights that take place on the streets in the play “Romeo and Juliet,” and more importantly, Juliet’s suicide by stabbing herself.
Greek Theatre had specific rules and traditions they generally followed. The plays were performed in a continuous time only during daylight, it would start exactly the time presented before the plot was revealed. Violence was not allowed on stage because it would upset the audience. There was always a chorus that would appear and explain what to be expected of the play. “Oedipus the King” is a prime example of what tools were used and how it was displayed. It was a part of a trilogy Sophocles wrote, the tragedy was performed for the first time around 430 BC. It honored the traditions and beliefs of the greeks during that time. The play was a continuation of Oedipus’ story, which the audience was already aware of because it could only be performed in a continuous time. Oedipus was the prince of Corinth who ran away from home and went back to Thebes, where he eventually became the king. He unknowingly fulfilled his prophecy by killing his biological father, and marrying his mother, Jocasta. Later on, when he finds out his tragic fate he agrees on getting banished. Due to no violence being portrayed on stage, battles and suicides were only announced through messengers and the chorus.
If Shakespeare were to write “Oedipus the King” it would have been significantly more exciting. It would have been one play rather than a trilogy, due to his flexibility regarding time changes and the fact that plays would last long, because they would start during daylight and end at night. He would include extreme violence and brutality on stage, such as Jocasta hanging herself, and Oedipus stabbing his own eyes and blinding himself. It would also be different because it would be focused on entertaining the viewers rather than the religious values and morals depicted in the story. Another difference would be that Shakespeare was known to include witty and inappropriate jokes in his plays, Jocasta might have had a different personality where she would have said improper lines. He would also be allowed to include complex subplots rather than only having one plot.
Greek Theatre and Renaissance Theatre shared numerous similarities in their plays, but they were mostly different. Due to the business value of Shakespeare’s plays, he did not follow some rules that the greeks valued. He incorporated intelligent references for his educated audience so they would feel good about themselves. There were also “dirty jokes” and witty humor. He also portrayed violence and bloodshed in order to keep the attention of uneducated audience members. Due to these differences, if Shakespeare were to write “Oedipus” it would have been more exciting and dramatic.