The Beginning of Drama

　　There are many theories about the beginning ofdrama in ancient Greece. The on most widelyaccepted today is based on the assumption thatdrama evolved from ritual. The argument for thisview goes as follows. In the beginning, human beingsviewed the natural forces of the world-even theseasonal changes-as unpredictable, and theysought through various means to control theseunknown and feared powers. Those measures whichappeared to bring the desired results were thenretained and repeated until they hardened into fixed rituals. Eventually stories arose whichexplained or veiled the mysteries of the rites. As time passed some rituals were abandoned, butthe stories, later called myths, persisted and provided material for art and drama.

　　Those who believe that drama evolved out of ritual also argue that those rites containedthe seed of theater because music, dance, masks, and costumes were almost always used, Furthermore, a suitable site had to be provided for performances and when the entirecommunity did not participate, a clear division was usually made between the "acting area" and the "auditorium." In addition, there were performers, and, since considerable importancewas attached to avoiding mistakes in the enactment of rites, religious leaders usually assumedthat task. Wearing masks and costumes, they often impersonated other people, animals, orsupernatural beings, and mimed the desired effect-success in hunt or battle, the coming rain, the revival of the Sun-as an actor might. Eventually such dramatic representations wereseparated from religious activities.

　　Another theory traces the theater's origin from the human interest in storytelling. Accordingto this vies tales (about the hunt, war, or other feats) are gradually elaborated, at first throughthe use of impersonation, action, and dialogue by a narrator and then through theassumption of each of the roles by a different person. A closely related theory traces theaterto those dances that are primarily rhythmical and gymnastic or that are imitations of animalmovements and sounds.