Final answer:
Greek plays often depict gods in unflattering ways to critique their contemporary society, emphasize moral lessons, and encourage critical thinking and questioning of traditional conventions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Greek plays often depict gods in unflattering ways for various reasons. One reason is that playwrights used mythological or ancient settings to critique their contemporary society. By portraying the gods in unflattering ways, they were able to comment on the flaws and shortcomings of their own society. Another reason is that the portrayal of gods with negative qualities, such as hubris or immoral actions, served to emphasize the moral lessons or messages of the plays. Finally, playwrights, such as Euripides, aimed to promote a questioning of the gods and traditional conventions, encouraging their audience to think critically and challenge societal norms.