The heroines of Greek tragedy presented in the plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides have long captivated audiences and critics. In this volume each of the eleven chapters discusses one of the heroines: Clytemnestra, Hecuba, Medea, Iphigenia, Alcestis, Antigone Electra, Deianeira, Phaedra, Creusa and Helen. The book focuses on characterisation and the motivations of the women, as well as on those of the male playwrights, and offers multiple viewpoints and critiques that enable readers to understand the context of each play and form their own views. Four core themes bridge the depictions of the heroines: the socio-political dynamic of ancient Greek expectations of women and their roles in society, the conflict of masculinity versus femininity, the alternation of defiance and submission, and the interplay between deceit and rhetoric.
Each chapter offers clear descriptions of plot and mythical background, and builds on the text of the plays to enable reflections on language and performance. All technical terms are explained and key topics or references are pulled out into box features that provide further background information. Discussion points at the ends of chapters enable readers to explore various topics more deeply.
Author(s): Hanna M. Roisman
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 328
City: London
Cover page
Halftitle page
Series page
Title page
Copyright page
Dedication
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Map
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF DISCUSSED TRAGEDIES
INTRODUCTION
Pervasive Themes
Themes Relating to the Characters
Aristotle’s Theory of Character
The Eleven Heroines
Translations
CHAPTER 1 CLYTEMNESTRA
CLYTEMNESTRA IN AESCHYLUS’ AGAMEMNON
The Ascendancy of Clytemnestra: Before Meeting Cassandra
CLYTEMNESTRA IN LIBATION BEARERS AND EUMENIDES
CLYTEMNESTRA IN SOPHOCLES’ ELECTRA
CLYTEMNESTRA IN EURIPIDES’ ELECTRA
CLYTEMNESTRA IN EURIPIDES’ IPHIGENIA AT AULIS
Conclusion
DISCUSSION TOPICS
CHAPTER 2 ELECTRA
Introduction
ELECTRA IN AESCHYLUS’ LIBATION BEARERS
ELECTRA IN SOPHOCLES’ ELECTRA
Confrontation with the Chorus
Confrontation with Chrysothemis
Confrontation with Clytemnestra
Reunion with Orestes
Electra and the Act of Revenge
ELECTRA IN EURIPIDES’ ELECTRA
Electra’s State of Mind and Motives
Orestes’ Return, the Recognition Scene—and Planning a Matricide
Volatile and Unrealistic or a Strategic Planner?
The Mother–Daughter Relationship and Confrontation with Clytemnestra
The Ending
ELECTRA IN EURIPIDES’ ORESTES
Love, Hatred, and Bloodthirst
Revenge and Gender
Conclusion
DISCUSSION TOPICS
CHAPTER 3 IPHIGENIA
IPHIGENIA IN IPHIGENIA AMONG THE TAURIANS
Introduction
Iphigenia’s Entrance
Address to her Heart
Iphigenia with Orestes and Pylades
Iphigenia’s Initiatives
The Recognition
IPHIGENIA IN IPHIGENIA AT AULIS
Introduction
Iphigenia
Conclusion
DISCUSSION TOPICS
CHAPTER 4 ANTIGONE
Introduction
ANTIGONE IN SOPHOCLES’ ANTIGONE
Antigone’s Intransigence
Antigone’s Single- Mindedness
Antigone’s Loyalties
Antigone’s Impulsiveness
Antigone and Ismene
Antigone and Creon
Is Antigone Manly?
Antigone’s Punishment
Conclusion
DISCUSSION TOPICS
CHAPTER 5 HELEN
Introduction
HELEN IN EURIPIDES’ TROJAN WOMEN
Helen’s Vilification Before Her Entrance: Poseidon, Hecuba, Andromache, Cassandra and Menelaus
Helen’s Entrance
Helen’s Speech in Her Formal Debate With Hecuba
Hecuba’s Rebuttal
Conclusion
HELEN IN EURIPIDES’ HELEN
Menelaus
Recognition
Helen’s Ruse
Conclusion
HELEN IN EURIPIDES’ ORESTES
Conclusion
DISCUSSION TOPICS
CHAPTER 6 HECUBA
Introduction
HECUBA IN TROJAN WOMEN
HECUBA IN HECUBA
Hecuba and Odysseus
Hecuba with Agamemnon and Polymestor
Conclusion
DISCUSSION TOPICS
CHAPTER 7 ALCESTIS
Introduction
Views of Alcestis
Alcestis Revived
Alcestis Most Present in her Absence
Alcestis’ Return
Conclusion
DISCUSSION TOPICS
CHAPTER 8 DEIANEIRA
Introduction
Fear, Loneliness, and Inaction
Overthinking and Confusion
Naïveté to Clear-Sightedness
The Truth About the “Philtre” is Revealed
Learning the Truth too Late
Conclusion
DISCUSSION TOPICS
CHAPTER 9 MEDEA
Introduction
How Medea’s Background is Reflected in Her Characterization
Medea’s Interactions With Other Characters—Sincerity and Insincerity
Masculinizing Medea
Medea’s Royal Status—Medea with Aegeus
Medea’s Open Admissions
Deception
Medea’s Revenge: Medea and Her Children
Conclusion
DISCUSSION TOPICS
CHAPTER 10 CREUSA
Introduction
The Rebellious Victim
The Mother Motif
Happy Ending?
Conclusion
DISCUSSION TOPICS
CHAPTER 11 PHAEDRA
Introduction
Phaedra and Her Critics
Phaedra and the Nurse: Dialogue
The Disclosure of Phaedra’s Love to Hippolytus
Hippolytus
Conclusion
DISCUSSION TOPICS
CONCLUSION
Heroines in Tragedy
Comparison Between the Heroines
Heroines’ Characterization
The Messages of Tragedy
NOTES
GLOSSARY OF NAMES AND TERMS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
