Reported assembly scenes in Greek Tragedy

Carter, D.M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8950-3722 (2013) Reported assembly scenes in Greek Tragedy. Illinois Classical Studies, 38. pp. 23-63. ISSN 0363-1923 doi: 10.5406/illiclasstud.38.0023

Abstract/Summary

This paper presents a detailed consideration of the three democratic assembly meetings that are reported in Greek tragedy. The three scenes in their different ways reveal a preoccupation with a tension between elite rhetoric and popular wisdom in a democracy. Behind this preoccupation lies a shared assumption: that many people attended assemblies expecting their minds to be made up; and that persuasive oratory and the popular judgment of persuasive oratory could have a decisive influence on a vote.