Six Tragedies
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Author Description
Phaedra * Oedipus * Medea * Trojan Women * Hercules Furens * Thyestes Seneca's Plays Are The Product Of A Sensational, Frightening, And Oppressive Period Of History. Tutor To The Emperor Nero, Seneca Lived Through Uncertain And Violent Times, And His Dramas Depict The Extremes Of Human Behaviour. Rape, Suicide, Child-killing, Incestuous Love, Madness And Mutilation Afflict The Characters, Who Are Obsessed And Destroyed By Their Feelings. Passion Is Constantly Set Against Reason, And Passion Wins Out. Seneca Forces Us To Think About The Difference Between Compromise And Hypocrisy, About What Happens When Emotions Overwhelm Judgement, And About How, If At All, A Person Can Be Good, Calm, Or Happy In A Corrupt Society And Under Constant Threat Of Death. Seneca Was One Of The Most Prolific, Versatile, And Influential Of All Classical Latin Writers, And The Only Tragic Playwright From Ancient Rome Whose Work Survives. This New Edition Of His Six Best Plays Captures Seneca's Style In A Verse Translation That Is Both Lively And Accurate. About The Series: For Over 100 Years Oxford World's Classics Has Made Available The Widest Range Of Literature From Around The Globe. Each Affordable Volume Reflects Oxford's Commitment To Scholarship, Providing The Most Accurate Text Plus A Wealth Of Other Valuable Features, Including Expert Introductions By Leading Authorities, Helpful Notes To Clarify The Text, Up-to-date Bibliographies For Further Study, And Much More.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
Seneca’s tragedies center on the catastrophic collision between unchecked human passion and the rigid constraints of reason within a volatile, oppressive political landscape. These plays follow protagonists driven by extreme emotional states—ranging from vengeful rage to incestuous desire—as they navigate environments defined by impending violence and moral decay. The narrative framework utilizes verse to heighten the intensity of the characters' internal conflicts, often leading to inevitable destruction. The primary opposition arises from the characters' inability to reconcile their volatile impulses with the demands of a corrupt society, resulting in a series of visceral, high-stakes confrontations.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Exploration of extreme psychological states including madness and obsession
- Use of verse translation to maintain rhythmic intensity
- Focus on the dichotomy between passion and rational judgment
- Depiction of transgressive acts such as suicide and filicide
- Examination of moral survival within a tyrannical political structure
- Incorporation of mythological archetypes to ground human suffering
- Emphasis on the consequences of unchecked power and corruption
- Stylistic focus on rhetorical flourish and dramatic tension
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Discussion often centers on the stark contrast between Seneca’s philosophical writings and the violent, sensational nature of his dramatic works. Readers frequently highlight the relentless pacing and the uncompromising focus on the darker aspects of human psychology. Critics often note that these plays serve as a reflection of the political instability present during the reign of Nero. The effectiveness of the verse translation is frequently praised for making these ancient texts accessible while retaining their original gravity. Many readers find the thematic exploration of how to remain virtuous in a corrupt society to be particularly relevant to contemporary discourse.
Page Count:
288
Publication Date:
2010-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0191539724
ISBN-13:
9780191539725
Drama
Classical
Roman
Plays
Tragedy
