Kathryn Evering: Sophocles Ajax

Personally, Ajax is my favorite Greek tragedy. It discusses the heroic story of a warrior during a changing time and ultimately he is stuck in the old traditions and ends his life. But the story is a significant tale of how it is more honorable to live, versus dying a beautiful death. That political glory is based off of your words and not how brave you are in battle. The play is a long poem that if read in its native Ancient Greek might be relatively poetic and create a pattern when spoken. In English it is a wonderful tale, a great lesson to be learned. So because we read it as a story, and a lesson to learn is it still art? It is art when produced on a stage, because it has been framed, but is it still art when you scroll through the words on a website reading it for a class? I feel like it should still be art because when it was created it was a piece of art meant for the amphitheater, to be shown at festivals and supported by the Athenian men patrons. The story of Ajax again creates a tale to learn and to feel an emotional connection at the same time creating a beautiful piece of art work that can be shared to everyone.