Nobly to live or nobly to die. The re-elaboration of an heroic dilemma in Euripides’ Heracles
Keywords:
Euripides, Heracles, nobility, εὐγένεια, ἀρετή, φιλία
Abstract
In Euripides’ Heracles the characters (Heracles’ family in the first part and Heracles himself in the second) have to decide, in the face of a difficult situation, whether they accept death or endure life. The family of Heracles accepts to die to fulfil the notion of εὐγένεια. Heracles, by contrast, finally decides to live. The argumentation underlying this decision implies a re-elaboration of heroic values from much more humanistic perspectives.
References
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CALVO MARTÍNEZ, J. L. (1995), Eurípides. Tragedias, II. Madrid, Gredos (19781).
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CHALK, H. H. O. (1962), “ΑΡΕΤΗ and ΒΙΑ in Euripides’ Herakles”: JHS 82 (1962) 7-18.
CONACHER, D. J. (1955), “Theme, Plot, and Technique in the Heracles of Euripides”: Phoenix 9.4 (1955) 139-152.
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LEE, K. H. (1982), “The Iris-Lyssa Scene in Euripides’ Heracles”: Antichthon 16 (1982) 44-53.
LLOYD, M. (1992), The Agon in Euripides. Oxford, Clarendon Press.
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MAHAFFY, J. P. (1880), A History of Classical Greek Literature, Vol. I. New York, Harper and Brothers.
MICHELINI, A. N. (1987), Euripides and the Tragic Tradition. Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin Press.
MOGGI, M. (2002), “L’oplita e l’arciere (ideologia e realtà tra guerra antica e guerra moderna)”: Ktema 27 (2002) 195-206.
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PAPADOPOULOU, T. (2005), Heracles and Euripidean Tragedy. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
PARMENTIER, L., GREGOIRE, H. (1923), Euripide. Tome III. Héraclès, Les Suppliantes, Ion. Paris, Les Belles Lettres.
PORTER, D. H. (1987), Only Connect. Three Studies in Greek Tragedy. Laxham-New York-London, University Press of America.
ROZOKOKI, A. (2013), “Political Echoes in Euripides’ Heracles”: TC 5.2 (2013) 260-288.
RUCK, C. (1976), “Duality and the Madness of Herakles”: Arethusa 9.1 (1976) 53-75.
SANZ MORALES, M., LIBRÁN MORENO, M. (2008), “El contraste como procedi-miento compositivo en el Heracles de Eurípides”: QUCC 88.1 (2008) 59-78.
SERGENT, B. (1991), “Arc”: Metis 6 (1991) 223-252.
SHELTON, J.-A. (1979), “Structural Unity and the Meaning of Euripides’ Herakles”: Eranos 77 (1979) 101-110.
SILK, M. S. (1993), “Heracles and Greek Tragedy”: I. MCAUSLAN, P. WALCOT (eds.), Greek Tragedy. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 116-137.
TARAGNA NOVO, S. (1973), “L’ΑΡΕΤΗ di Eracle e la sorte dell’uomo nel contrasto tra Lico e Anfitrione (Eur. H.F. 140-239)”: RIFC 101 (1973) 45-69.
TARKOW, T. A. (1977), “The Glorification of Athens in Euripides’ Heracles”: Helios 5 (1977) 27-35.
YOSHITAKE, S. (1994), “Disgrace, Grief and other Ills: Herakles’ Rejection of Suicide”: JHS 114 (1994) 135-153.
BAÑULS OLLER, J. V. (2002), “Eurípides, Heracles v. 1345”: M. J. GARCIA SOLER (ed.), ΤΙΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ. Homenaje al profesor Pedro A. Gainzarain. Vitoria, Universidad del País Vasco, 69-80.
BARLOW, S. A. (1981), “Sophocles’ Ajax and Euripides’ Heracles”: Ramus 10.2 (1981) 112-128.
BARLOW, S. A. (1982), “Structure and Dramatic Realism in Euripides’ Heracles”: G&R 29.2 (1982) 115-125.
BOND, G. W. (1981), Euripides. Heracles. Oxford, Clarendon Press.
BOWRA, C. M. (1970), Sophoclean Tragedy. Oxford, Clarendon Press (19441).
BROWN, A. L. (1978), “Wretched Tales of Poets: Euripides, Heracles 1340-6”: PCPhS 24 (1978) 22-30.
CALVO MARTÍNEZ, J. L. (1995), Eurípides. Tragedias, II. Madrid, Gredos (19781).
CASADIO, V. (2010), L’arciere nell’antichità greca e romana. Mito, letteratura e storia. Teramo, Evoè.
CHALK, H. H. O. (1962), “ΑΡΕΤΗ and ΒΙΑ in Euripides’ Herakles”: JHS 82 (1962) 7-18.
CONACHER, D. J. (1955), “Theme, Plot, and Technique in the Heracles of Euripides”: Phoenix 9.4 (1955) 139-152.
DUCHEMIN, J. (1967), “Le personnage de Lyssa dans Héraclès Furieux d’Euripide”: REG 80 (1967) 130-139.
ENCINAS REGUERO, M. C. (2004), “La habilidad retórica en el Áyax de Sófocles. Los diferentes usos de eugenés y áristos”: A. PÉREZ JIMÉNEZ, C. ALCALDE MARTÍN, R. CABALLERO SÁNCHEZ (eds.), Sófocles el hombre, Sófocles el poeta. Actas del Congreso internacional con motivo del XXV centenario del nacimiento de Sófocles (497/496 a.C.-2003/2004), celebrado en Málaga, 29-31 de mayo de 2003. Málaga, Charta Antigua, 361-374.
ENCINAS REGUERO, M. C. (2007), “Χάρις χάριν γάρ ἐστιν ἡ τίκτουσ’ ἀεί. Una lectura de Sófocles, Áyax 522”: Faventia 29 (2007) 51-58.
FERNÁNDEZ DELGADO, J. A. (2013), “Anaskeue y kataskeue del Heracles euripideo (HF 140-235)”: M. QUIJADA SAGREDO, M. C. ENCINAS REGUERO (eds.), Retórica y discurso en el teatro griego. Madrid, Ediciones Clásicas, 91 112.
FERNÁNDEZ DELGADO, J. A. (2014), “Enkomion euripideo de Heracles”: A. PÉREZ JIMÉNEZ (ed.), Realidad, Fantasía, Interpretación, Funciones y Pervivencia del Mito Griego. Estudios en Honor del Profesor Carlos García Gual. Madrid, Pórtico, 269-282.
FOLEY, H. P. (1985), Ritual Irony. Poetry and Sacrifice in Euripides. Ithaca-London, Cornell University Press.
GARRISON, E. P. (1995), Groaning Tears. Ethical and Dramatic Aspects of Suicide in Greek Tragedy. Leiden-New York-Köln, Brill.
GEORGE, D. B. (1994), “Euripides’ Heracles 140-235: Staging and the Stage Iconography of Heracles’ Bow”: GRBS 35.2 (1994) 145-157.
GIBERT, J. (1995), Change of Mind in Greek Tragedy. Göttingen, Vandenhoeck & Rupprecht.
GREGORY, J. (1991), Euripides and the Instruction of the Athenians. Ann Arbor, University of Michigan Press.
GRIFFITHS, E. M. (2002), “Euripides’ Herakles and the Pursuit of Immortality”: Mnemosyne 55.6 (2002) 641-656.
HALLERAN, M. R. (1986), “Rhetoric, Irony, and the Ending of Euripides’ Herakles”: ClAnt 5.2 (1986) 171-181.
HAMILTON, R. (1985), “Slings and Arrows: The Debate with Lycus in the Heracles”: TAPhA 115 (1985) 19-25.
IERANÒ, G. (2016), “Euripide e l’arco di Eracle”: M. F. SILVA, M. do C. FIALHO, J. L. BRANDÃO (coords.), O livro do tempo: Teatro greco-latino e sua recepçâo, Vol. 1. Coimbra, Universidade de Coimbra/Annablume, 103-120.
KAMERBEEK, J. C. (1966), “Unity and Meaning of Euripides’ Heracles”: Mnemosyne 19.1 (1966) 1-16.
KITTO, H. D. F. (19613), Greek Tragedy. A Literary Study. London-New York, Routledge (reimpr. 2003).
LAWRENCE, S. E. (1998), “The God that is Truly God and the Universe of Euripides’ Heracles”: Mnemosyne 51.2 (1998) 129-146.
LEE, K. H. (1982), “The Iris-Lyssa Scene in Euripides’ Heracles”: Antichthon 16 (1982) 44-53.
LLOYD, M. (1992), The Agon in Euripides. Oxford, Clarendon Press.
LLOYD-JONES, H., WILSON, N. G. (1990), Sophoclis fabulae. Oxford. Oxford University Press.
MAHAFFY, J. P. (1880), A History of Classical Greek Literature, Vol. I. New York, Harper and Brothers.
MICHELINI, A. N. (1987), Euripides and the Tragic Tradition. Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin Press.
MOGGI, M. (2002), “L’oplita e l’arciere (ideologia e realtà tra guerra antica e guerra moderna)”: Ktema 27 (2002) 195-206.
NORWOOD, G. (1920), Greek Tragedy. London, Methuen.
PAPADOPOULOU, T. (2001), “Revenge in Euripides’ Heracles”: F. BUDELMANN, P. MICHELAKIS (eds.), Homer, Tragedy and Beyond. Essays in Honour of P. E. Easterling. London, Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies, 113-128.
PAPADOPOULOU, T. (2005), Heracles and Euripidean Tragedy. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
PARMENTIER, L., GREGOIRE, H. (1923), Euripide. Tome III. Héraclès, Les Suppliantes, Ion. Paris, Les Belles Lettres.
PORTER, D. H. (1987), Only Connect. Three Studies in Greek Tragedy. Laxham-New York-London, University Press of America.
ROZOKOKI, A. (2013), “Political Echoes in Euripides’ Heracles”: TC 5.2 (2013) 260-288.
RUCK, C. (1976), “Duality and the Madness of Herakles”: Arethusa 9.1 (1976) 53-75.
SANZ MORALES, M., LIBRÁN MORENO, M. (2008), “El contraste como procedi-miento compositivo en el Heracles de Eurípides”: QUCC 88.1 (2008) 59-78.
SERGENT, B. (1991), “Arc”: Metis 6 (1991) 223-252.
SHELTON, J.-A. (1979), “Structural Unity and the Meaning of Euripides’ Herakles”: Eranos 77 (1979) 101-110.
SILK, M. S. (1993), “Heracles and Greek Tragedy”: I. MCAUSLAN, P. WALCOT (eds.), Greek Tragedy. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 116-137.
TARAGNA NOVO, S. (1973), “L’ΑΡΕΤΗ di Eracle e la sorte dell’uomo nel contrasto tra Lico e Anfitrione (Eur. H.F. 140-239)”: RIFC 101 (1973) 45-69.
TARKOW, T. A. (1977), “The Glorification of Athens in Euripides’ Heracles”: Helios 5 (1977) 27-35.
YOSHITAKE, S. (1994), “Disgrace, Grief and other Ills: Herakles’ Rejection of Suicide”: JHS 114 (1994) 135-153.
Published
2019-04-01
Section
Articles
