re with its overwhelming emphasis on the individual, and conditioned by modern psychological terminology, expect a dramatist to be primarily concerned with the unique aspect of each man’s experience, with the solitary focus of consciousness. . . . When they first read a Greek play they are naturally inclined to interpret what the characters say and do as if the ancient dramatist shared their preoccupation with idiosyncratic detail” (Easterling 138). However, Greek tragedy places much more emphasis on plot than it does on character.
The emphasis on plot and action is characteristic of Sophecles’ Oedipus. The title character of this play, while one can certainly see a level of character development, is not the individual of modern drama. When we first meet Oedipus our first impression is his overwhelming concern for the city which has been plunged into plague. He first and foremost establishes himself in the role of King and protector of his people. Oedipus promises the people
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