Nebenfiguren in den Tragödien des Sophokles

Abstract

The analysis of minor characters as speaking roles in the preserved Sophoclean tragedies shows that, aside from their purely functional use as anonymous messengers, the poet also uses these figures to incorporate a second layer into his plays. This additional level contrasts the tragic world of the protagonists with that of the common folk, who on the one hand suffer under the decisions and actions of the tragic figures and are brought into conflict with situations that are dangerous for their wellbeing, but on the other hand also present us with a different, untragic point of view – that of the humble person.