Character and characterization in Greek tragedy

Abstract

Over the last three decades there has been a lively and controversial discussion about the importance of character and charac- terization in Greek tragedy. In the first and slightly larger part of my paper I will deal with the most important arguments, which have been brought forward against a character-oriented interpretation, and then after a short comparison of Aeschylus and Sophocles look at extent and form of characterization in Aeschylean tragedy.