Euripides Alcestis Social Script or Ideological Critique Alcestis
- Slides: 10
Euripides’ Alcestis Social Script or Ideological Critique? Alcestis and Admetus. Etruscan vase
Agenda l Discussion: “Best of Women” l Scripted Femininity? l Euripides’ Alcestis l Social Script or Ideological Critique? 2013 -10 -15 Euripides’ Alcestis 2
Discussion: “Best of Women” Scripted Femininity?
Chorus: “… she who in my mind appears / noble beyond / all women beside in a wife’s duty” (10). “… the noblest woman underneath the sun, by far” (15). “… the bravest wife …” (19). “Now let. . . Death. . . | know that you are the bravest of wives, by far” (24). “best of all women” (45) Pheres: “I say people ought to marry / like this. Otherwise, better not to marry at all” (32) Pericles: “… the highest praise you can win is to be spoken of by men as little as possible …” (Thucydides quoted Paul-Zinserling p. 22)
Discussion Script? l It’s performance? family first l l needs of family before own she’d rather have her children have a father than a mother strength, nobility, bravery – not that l passivity – yes l care-taker, mother, wife mixed points on her providing for her family l gender reversals l l passivity l l Eumelus’ speech let’s stuff happen, doesn’t fight paradox of being spoken of… l l l dying for = feminine l way she dealt with it masculine l it may be a kind of joke? ? 2013 -10 -15 male mourning courageous woman Euripides’ Alcestis l assertiveness 5
Euripides’ Alcestis Social Script or Ideological Critique?
Production Facts l 438 BCE l 1 st preserved play l 2 nd to Sophocles 2013 -10 -15 Euripides’ Alcestis 7
Alcestis: Analysis l Prologue l l Chorus entry l l “Gods: “help!” Scene l l Maidservant, Chorus l l Alcestis: best of women Scene l l Apollo, death (debate) Alcestis, Admetus, Eumelus. Grief, oath Chorus l Best of women. . . l Scene l l Chorus l l Heracles, Admetus’ hospitality Scene l Admetus, Pheres (debate) Chorus Scene l Servant, Heracles l Chorus l Power of fate l Finale l Happy ending? l l
Antinomies in Euripides’ Alcestis male ~ female sociality ~ isolation belonging ~ alienation Admetus’ hospitality ~ Alcestis’ glory life ~ death revelry ~ mourning dominant ~ submissive fame ~ silence
Does Euripides’ Alcestis “think” inside/outside the ideological “box”?
