Ion by Euripides

Brent and I don't really take enough advantage of Washington's cultural scene. But this year we became subscribers to the Shakespeare Theater. (It was cheap: 7 plays for $120. A pretty neat season pass program for people under 35.)

Tonight we went to see Ion by Euripides (written between 414 B.C. an d 418 B.C.). The version we saw was partially updated for a modern audience. Billed as "The Greek Tragedy that had a Happy Ending" the play lived up to its billing.

Long story short: three people go to the alter of the god Apollo to ask a question of the oracle. Apollo tells three different stories. (Katerina, look I am not Greek...tee hee.) Anyway, misunderstandings and lies ensue, but all ends well.

The main theme of the story is that though the gods may lie sometimes, they are still in charge. Roll with it.

Though fortune's blackest storms rage on his house,
the man whose pious soul reveres the gods,
assumes a confidence,
And justly: for the good at length obtain the meed of virtue;
but the unholy wretch (such is his nature) never can be happy.

(The final lines of the Chorus in Ion.)

Some of the buses in DC have been running this ad:
"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

In response, "There definitely is a God. So join the Christian party and enjoy your life" was put on buses in London.

Funny that all these years later, we are still talking about gods and happiness.