Euripides in this interesting play of his middle period
takes as his subject the figure of Heracles and uses it to explore
the contrast between his glamorous heroic image, so well known
in myth, and the ugly reality of domestic violence involving the
less well known story of the murder of his wife and children.
In treating this act the dramatist explores the boundaries of
madness and Heracles' painful emergence from this state to a bitter
realisation of what he has done. A further contrast is drawn between
the callous gods who cause the madness and the caring and loving
support of human friends and remaining family. (Theseus and Amphitryon).
This edition attempts to bring out the human and psychological
qualities in the play and to defend its structure and dramatic
power, arguing that it is neither "a grotesque abortion"
(Swinburne) nor "broken-backed" (Murray) but a coherent
and exciting work.
Dr Shirley Barlow is Senior Lecturer at the University of Kent and is the author of Trojan Women in this series.
240pp. (1996) cl 232 2 £35 / $59.99, pb 233 0 £16.50 / $28
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General Editor's Foreword GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES INTRODUCTION TO HERACLES PARALLEL GREEK TEXT AND ENGLISH TRANSLATION COMMENTARY General Bibliography |
SOME COMMENTS BY REVIEWERS
"invaluable new commentary ... She is at her most stimulating
when confronting criticisms of apparent weaknesses in the play
... excellent book." JACT
RELATED BOOKS
See under EURIPIDES in this series.
CONTENTS