Dramatic Innovations of Euripides in "Phoenissae," "Electra" and "Orestes"

This thesis examines the most important innovations of Euripides in Phoenissae, Electra and Orestes. The choice of the particular tragedies is due to the their thematic relation with extant tragedies of the other two great tragedians of Athens. Only major innovations have been taken under consideration - innovations with crucial influence on the Euripidean shaping of the myth. In the Introduction there is a synoptic survey of the latitudes for innovations the tragic poet has. The conclusion is that these latitudes are broad, although some features of the myths are rigidly established. In the next chapter I research some elements of the Phoenissae: the role of Polynices and his enmity with Eteocles, the presentation of Jocasta and Oedipus, the Menoeceus scene and the differences concerning the Seven Argive leaders between Phoenissae and Septem. Electrat's chapter deals with the relation of this play with Sophocles' Electra and Aeschylus' Choephori, mainly in regard of the personality of Electra and Orestes, and the futility of the matricide. In Orestes we face a different problem: do the striking Euripidean innovations of this tragedy aim to present a criminal Orestes or does he want to stress the alienation of the main heroes from the their social environment