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Prosatyric or “Anti-satyric”? Euripides’ Alcestis Alcestis and Admetus. Etruscan vase.

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Presentation on theme: "Prosatyric or “Anti-satyric”? Euripides’ Alcestis Alcestis and Admetus. Etruscan vase."— Presentation transcript:

1 Prosatyric or “Anti-satyric”? Euripides’ Alcestis Alcestis and Admetus. Etruscan vase

2 “She never can be hurt again. For her a thousand cares are over — she is sublime. But I, who have no title to be living and I have overstepped my mark, must go on and on — most melancholy — alive. Too late I learn this now.” (Admetus to Chorus, Euripides Alcestis, p. 36)

3 Agenda Discussion: Alcestis and Genre What Is Alcestis? What Do We Learn? Introduction to Play Tragic Themes, Satyric Treatment? “I Have Overstepped My Mark” Themes and Issues in Alcestis Performance Reunion Scene (pp. 41 ff.)

4 Discussion: Alcestis and Genre What Is Alcestis? What Do We Learn?

5 Ancient Commentary “The drama is rather of the satyr-play variety, because its reversal leads to joy and pleasure, contrary to tragic genre. Inadmissible as examples of tragic poetry are both the Orestes [of Euripides] and the Alcestis, as they start from misfortune and finish joyously, with the characters well off – a plot pattern holding rather more to comedy.”

6 Also… Tragic? Lamentation “I have overstepped my mark,... Too late I learn this now” (Admetus, p. 36) Satyric? Butler on Heracles (p. 30) “He grabs the loving cup with ivy round it / and swills it down neat like so much grape juice” Heracles to Butler (p. 31) “Have a drink” “… pay homage to … Aphrodite” “… take a swig with me”

7 Discussion: Possible Points… Happy tragedy? Is that a happy ending? And is happy tragedy even possible? Genre parody? Like Cyclops? And if Alcestis… is/isn’t tragedy … what is tragedy?

8 Introduction to Play Tragic Themes, Satyric Treatment?

9 Production Facts 438 BCE 1st preserved play 2 nd to Sophocles Tetralogy Cretan Women Alcmaeon in Psophis Telephus Alcestis

10 Mythological Background Asclepius, Apollo Apollo, Admetus Alcestis, Pelias, Medea Heracles & Cerberus Pelias takes a bath...

11 Prologue (p. 1 ff., Signet ed.) Apollo, death. (Quasi-agōn) Parodos (6) Elders of Pherae. (Alcestis: best of women) Episode 1 (8) Maidservant, Leader Stasimon 1 (11) “Gods: “help!” Episode 2 (12) lyric duet, dialogue: Alcestis, Admetus (grief, fidelity) lyric duet: Admetus, Eumelus spoken: Admetus solo Stasimon 2 (19) best of women... Episode 3 (20) Heracles, leader, Admetus. (Lodging, deception, desis-lusis) Stasimon 3 (23) Admetus’ hospitality Episode 4 (25) Admetus, Leader, Pheres. (Agōn) Short choral interlude (29) Episode 5 (29) Butler, Heracles. (Carousing, 1 st recognition) Stasimon 4 (37) Power of fate Exodos Admetus, Heracles, silent Alcestis (2 nd recognition, 2 nd desis/lusis) Alcestis: Analysis

12 “I Have Overstepped My Mark” Themes and Issues in Alcestis

13 Boundaries, Relations God versus god Life, death compare Eumenides Kin versus stranger Guest space versus family space Kin versus kin Help friends, harm enemies? (Admetus versus Pheres)

14 Gender, Heroism (“Best of Wives”) Alcestis “Alcestis / who seems to me and all of us / best of wives a man could get” (Chorus, 7) “The noblest consort under the sun!” (Leader, p. 9) “Your death bequeaths | A theme for songs | For us, and lays for endless singers” (Chorus, p. 19) Compare Achilles as “Best of the Greeks” (Homer Iliad 2.411) Achilles’ “undying glory” (Homer Iliad 9.411) Pericles to Athens’ women: “Great will be your glory in not falling short of your natural character; and greatest will be hers who is least talked of among the men whether for good or for bad” (Thucydides 2.45)

15 Performance Reunion Scene (pp. 41 ff.)

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