Ovid's Tragic Heroines: Gender Abjection and Generic Code-Switching

Ovid's Tragic Heroines explores how he incorporates Greek generic codes and the tragic heroines, Phaedra and Medea, into his poetry. It argues that their failure to be understood and punishment are constructed as a result of their female nature, and that Ovid's masculine poetic voice is given free rein to oscillate and play with poetic possibilities. Jessica A. Westerhold analyzes the dynamic nature of generic categories and codes in Ovid's poetry, particularly the interplay of elegy and epic, and applies the idea of the abject to elucidate Ovid's process of constructing gender and genre. The analysis reveals how Ovid's Phaedras and Medeas offer alternatives to traditional gender roles and material appropriate to a poem's genre, using the tragic code to introduce a new perspective to epic and elegy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Ovid's Tragic Heroines is a groundbreaking exploration that delves into the intricate interplay of Greek generic codes and the tragic heroines, Phaedra and Medea. Through this work, we gain a deeper understanding of Ovid's creative incorporation of these elements and his persistent fascination with these two characters and their paradigms.

Ovid presents these two Attic tragic heroines as symbols of distinct passions, shaped by the unique combination of their gender and generic provenance. Their inability to be comprehended and their subsequent punishment are constructed as the consequence of their feminine nature, which is inherently tragic. In contrast, Ovid's masculine poetic voice is allowed to roam and explore poetic possibilities unrestrained.

Jessica A. Westerhold delves into select passages from the poems Ars Amatoria, Heroides, and Metamorphoses, building upon existing scholarship to analyze the dynamic nature of generic categories and codes in Ovid's poetry. She particularly focuses on the interplay between elegy and epic, shedding light on the ways in which Ovid manipulated these genres to create his unique poetic voice.

Westerhold's analysis extends to the reception of Ovid's poetry, employing the concept of the abject to elucidate his process of constructing gender and genre. By examining the ways in which Phaedras and Medeas challenge traditional gender roles and the material appropriate to a poem's genre, Westerhold reveals how Ovid's tragic code offers a fresh perspective on epic and elegy.

Through this comprehensive exploration, Ovid's Tragic Heroines expands our understanding of Ovid's artistic brilliance and his profound exploration of human emotions and societal norms. It sheds light on the complex interplay between gender, genre, and tragedy, providing a valuable contribution to the study of classical literature and its enduring impact.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501770357