Female Heroism in the Works of Corneille and Racine
Medee, Clytemnestre, Phedre
Published on 26. July 2023
Book
Hardback
236 pages
978-90-04-51995-4 (ISBN)
Description
This study breaks with traditional readings in terms of tragic model and tragic hero in the works of Racine and Corneille. It departs from the critical tradition of examining the tragic hero as an isolated figure, defined by autonomy; it approaches the behaviour of Medee, Clytemnestre, and Phedre from a relational perspective. It argues that these female characters belong to the tragic hero category, hold valid and valuable ethical positions and deserve to be treated as equal to their male counterparts. It also redefines the way we look at the tragic dynamic. The characters are no longer antagonists but inadvertent collaborators working towards the tragic outcome in order to satisfy desires and beliefs about themselves and the world that are deeply rooted in their psyche. This book shows that alternative interpretations of the behaviour of Medee, Clytemnestre and Phedre can be obtained and must be obtained by applying modern methodologies in order to challenge the biased readings from the past and to see these characters in a new light.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Leiden
Netherlands
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 238 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
484 gr
ISBN-13
978-90-04-51995-4 (9789004519954)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Dana Lungu is a Lecturer in French at the University of Bristol. She completed her doctoral studies at the University of Bristol in 2019 and has published in Early Modern French Studies.
Content
Contents
Acknowledgements and Dedication
Introduction
?1?The Tragic Motif and Ahistorical Tragic Heroines
?2?Medea, Clytemnestra and Phaedra as Early Modern Tragic Heroines
?3?The Problematic Relationship of Medee, Clytemnestre and Phedre with the Critics
?4?Alternatives to the Mainstream
?5?Approaches to Staging the Classical Plays
1 Exploring the Ethical Perspective of Medee, Clytemnestre and Phedre: an Ethics of Care Approach
?1?Tragedy's Relationship to Ethics: Moral Approaches to the Tragic Conflict
?2?Revalorisation of Emotions and Ethics of Care: a Different Approach to Moral Dilemmas
?3?Medee: Self-Reliance and Heroism
?4?Clytemnestre: Relationships Are the Price to Pay for Power
?5?Phedre: Going against the Norms in the Pursuit of Passion and Safety
?6?Conclusion
2 The Games That Medee, Clytemnestre and Phedre Play: a Reading in Transactional Analysis
?1?Psychoanalytical Readings and Their Troubled Relationship with Medee, Clytemnestre, and Phedre
?2?Medee and the 'Always' Script
?3?Clytemnestre and the 'After' Script
?4?Phedre and the 'See What You Made Me Do' Game
?5?Conclusion
3 Medee, Clytemnestre and Phedre on the Twentieth Century Stage
?1?Contemporary Trends in Staging French Classical Tragedy
?2?Contemporary Performances
?3?Conclusion
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgements and Dedication
Introduction
?1?The Tragic Motif and Ahistorical Tragic Heroines
?2?Medea, Clytemnestra and Phaedra as Early Modern Tragic Heroines
?3?The Problematic Relationship of Medee, Clytemnestre and Phedre with the Critics
?4?Alternatives to the Mainstream
?5?Approaches to Staging the Classical Plays
1 Exploring the Ethical Perspective of Medee, Clytemnestre and Phedre: an Ethics of Care Approach
?1?Tragedy's Relationship to Ethics: Moral Approaches to the Tragic Conflict
?2?Revalorisation of Emotions and Ethics of Care: a Different Approach to Moral Dilemmas
?3?Medee: Self-Reliance and Heroism
?4?Clytemnestre: Relationships Are the Price to Pay for Power
?5?Phedre: Going against the Norms in the Pursuit of Passion and Safety
?6?Conclusion
2 The Games That Medee, Clytemnestre and Phedre Play: a Reading in Transactional Analysis
?1?Psychoanalytical Readings and Their Troubled Relationship with Medee, Clytemnestre, and Phedre
?2?Medee and the 'Always' Script
?3?Clytemnestre and the 'After' Script
?4?Phedre and the 'See What You Made Me Do' Game
?5?Conclusion
3 Medee, Clytemnestre and Phedre on the Twentieth Century Stage
?1?Contemporary Trends in Staging French Classical Tragedy
?2?Contemporary Performances
?3?Conclusion
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index