Praise and Blame in Greek Tragedy

Kate Cook's book explores the use of praise and blame in Greek tragedy in relation to heroic identity, showing how it destabilizes identity and conflict between individuals in democratic Athens. The first half examines conflicts generated by heroes who seek praise, while the second half examines the women who produce these discourses.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In her groundbreaking work, "Exploring the Use of Praise and Blame in Greek Tragedy in Relation to Heroic Identity," Kate Cook delves into the intricate interplay between praise and blame in Greek tragedy, revealing their profound significance in shaping heroic identity. Cook demonstrates that the distribution of praise and blame, a crucial social function of archaic and classical poetry, plays a pivotal role in Greek tragedy as well. These concepts are central to the discourse surrounding the identity of male heroic figures in tragedy, making them essential for understanding a wide range of tragedies in their literary and social contexts.

In the tragic genre, the destructive or dangerous aspects of the pursuit of kleos (glory) are explored, and the distribution of praise and blame emerges as a means to destabilize identity and conflict within democratic Athens. The first half of this book explores the conflicts that arise when heroes seek one type of praise in tragedy but encounter characters or choruses who refuse to grant the praise discourses they desire. The second half examines what transpires when female speakers engage in the production of these discourses, particularly the wives and mothers of heroic figures, who often refuse to contribute to the production of praise and positive kleos for these men.

Praise and Blame in Greek Tragedy, therefore, showcases the transformative power of focusing on this poetically significant topic, offering fresh interpretations of well-known tragedies and developing a novel approach to both male heroic identity and women's speech in tragedy. Through her meticulous analysis, Cook sheds light on the complex dynamics that shape the characters and their relationships, illuminating the profound impact of praise and blame on the construction of heroic identity and the broader social fabric of ancient Greece.

Weight: 550g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350410497