Performing oaths in classical Greek drama / Judith Fletcher
| Author(s): | Fletcher, Judith |
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| Location: |
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| Subjects: | Greek drama--History and criticism Oaths in literature Speech acts (Linguistics) in literature Aeschylus--Criticism and interpretation Sophocles--Criticism and interpretation Euripides--Criticism and interpretation Aristophanes--Criticism and interpretation |
| Formats: | |
| Material Type: | Books |
| Language: | English |
| Audience: | Unspecified |
| Published: | Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2012 |
| LC Classification: | P, PA |
| Table of Contents: | Acknowledgments viii A note on abbreviations xi Introduction 1 1.. From curses to blessings: horkos in the Oresteia 35 2.. Speaking like a man: oaths in Sophocles' Trachiniae and Philoctetes 70 3.. Horkos in the polis: Athens, Thebes and Sophocles 102 4.. Perjury and other perversions: Euripides' Phoenissae, Orestes and Cyclops 123 5.. Twisted justice in Aristophanes' Clouds 158 6.. Women and oaths in Euripides 177 7.. How to do things with Euripides: Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazusae 203 8.. Swearing off sex: the women's oath in Aristophanes' Lysistrata 220 Conclusion 241 Bibliography 249 Index locorum 270 General index 275 |
| Notes: | LCCN: 2011029382 ISBN: 9780521762731 (hardback) ISBN: 0521762731 (hardback) Summary: "Oaths were ubiquitous rituals in ancient Athenian legal, commercial, civic and international spheres. Their importance is reflected by the fact that much of surviving Greek drama features a formal oath sworn before the audience. This is the first comprehensive study of that phenomenon. The book explores how the oath can mark or structure a dramatic plot, at times compelling characters like Euripides' Hippolytus to act contrary to their best interests. It demonstrates how dramatic oaths resonate with oath rituals familiar to the Athenian audiences. Aristophanes' Lysistrata and her accomplices, for example, swear an oath that blends protocols of international treaties with priestesses' vows of sexual abstinence. By employing the principles of Speech Act theory, this book examines how the performative power of the dramatic oath can mirror the status quo, but also disturb categories of gender, social status and civic identity in ways that redistribute and confound social authority"-- Provided by publisher Includes bibliographical references (p. 249-269) and indexes Contents: Introduction -- 1. From curses to blessings: horkos in the Oresteia -- 2. Speaking like a man: Sophocles' Trachiniae and Philoctetes -- 3. Horkos in the polis: Athens, Thebes, and Sophocles -- 4. Perjury and other perversions: Euripides' Phoenissae, Orestes, and Cyclops -- 5. Twisted justice in Aristophanes' Clouds -- 6. Women and oaths in Euripides -- 7. How to do things with Euripides: Aristophanes' Thesmophoriazusae -- 8. Swearing off sex in Aristophanes' Lysistrata -- Conclusion |
| Physical Description: | xi, 277 p. ; 24 cm |
| OCLC Number: | 711047972 |
| ISBN/ISSN: | 9780521762731 0521762731 |