The Captive Woman's Lament in Greek Tragedy

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, Ancient & Classical
Cover of the book The Captive Woman's Lament in Greek Tragedy by Casey Dué, University of Texas Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Casey Dué ISBN: 9780292782228
Publisher: University of Texas Press Publication: January 1, 2010
Imprint: University of Texas Press Language: English
Author: Casey Dué
ISBN: 9780292782228
Publisher: University of Texas Press
Publication: January 1, 2010
Imprint: University of Texas Press
Language: English

The laments of captive women found in extant Athenian tragedy constitute a fundamentally subversive aspect of Greek drama. In performances supported by and intended for the male citizens of Athens, the songs of the captive women at the Dionysia gave a voice to classes who otherwise would have been marginalized and silenced in Athenian society: women, foreigners, and the enslaved. The Captive Woman's Lament in Greek Tragedy addresses the possible meanings ancient audiences might have attached to these songs. Casey Dué challenges long-held assumptions about the opposition between Greeks and barbarians in Greek thought by suggesting that, in viewing the plight of the captive women, Athenian audiences extended pity to those least like themselves. Dué asserts that tragic playwrights often used the lament to create an empathetic link that blurred the line between Greek and barbarian. After a brief overview of the role of lamentation in both modern and classical traditions, Dué focuses on the dramatic portrayal of women captured in the Trojan War, tracing their portrayal through time from the Homeric epics to Euripides' Athenian stage. The author shows how these laments evolved in their significance with the growth of the Athenian Empire. She concludes that while the Athenian polis may have created a merciless empire outside the theater, inside the theater they found themselves confronted by the essential similarities between themselves and those they sought to conquer.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The laments of captive women found in extant Athenian tragedy constitute a fundamentally subversive aspect of Greek drama. In performances supported by and intended for the male citizens of Athens, the songs of the captive women at the Dionysia gave a voice to classes who otherwise would have been marginalized and silenced in Athenian society: women, foreigners, and the enslaved. The Captive Woman's Lament in Greek Tragedy addresses the possible meanings ancient audiences might have attached to these songs. Casey Dué challenges long-held assumptions about the opposition between Greeks and barbarians in Greek thought by suggesting that, in viewing the plight of the captive women, Athenian audiences extended pity to those least like themselves. Dué asserts that tragic playwrights often used the lament to create an empathetic link that blurred the line between Greek and barbarian. After a brief overview of the role of lamentation in both modern and classical traditions, Dué focuses on the dramatic portrayal of women captured in the Trojan War, tracing their portrayal through time from the Homeric epics to Euripides' Athenian stage. The author shows how these laments evolved in their significance with the growth of the Athenian Empire. She concludes that while the Athenian polis may have created a merciless empire outside the theater, inside the theater they found themselves confronted by the essential similarities between themselves and those they sought to conquer.

More books from University of Texas Press

Cover of the book M. K. Kellogg's Texas Journal, 1872 by Casey Dué
Cover of the book The Invisible Tent by Casey Dué
Cover of the book The San Antonio Missions and their System of Land Tenure by Casey Dué
Cover of the book The River Has Never Divided Us by Casey Dué
Cover of the book J. Frank Dobie by Casey Dué
Cover of the book Blood Lines by Casey Dué
Cover of the book A Shi'ite Pilgrimage to Mecca, 1885-1886 by Casey Dué
Cover of the book Heraldry for the Dead by Casey Dué
Cover of the book In the Company of Scholars by Casey Dué
Cover of the book Aransas by Casey Dué
Cover of the book Ascomycete Fungi of North America by Casey Dué
Cover of the book Aeschines by Casey Dué
Cover of the book States of Nature by Casey Dué
Cover of the book The History of Tense/Aspect/Mood/Voice in the Mayan Verbal Complex by Casey Dué
Cover of the book Dramatists in Revolt by Casey Dué
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy