The violent hero : Heracles in the Greek imagination / Katherine Lu Hsu.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hsu, Katherine Lu, author.

Series:

Bloomsbury classical studies monographs.

Bloomsbury classical studies monographs

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Heracles (Greek mythological character).

Heracles.

Violence in literature.

Greek literature--History and criticism.

Greek literature.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (265 pages).

Edition:

First edition.

Distribution:

[London, England] : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020

Place of Publication:

London [England] : Bloomsbury Academic, 2020.

Summary:

"This book uses the mythological hero Heracles as a lens for investigating the nature of heroic violence in archaic and classical Greek literature, from Homer through to Aristophanes. Heracles was famous for his great victories as much as for his notorious failures. Driving each of these acts is his heroic violence, an ambivalent force that can offer communal protection as well as cause grievous harm. Drawing on evidence from epic, lyric poetry, tragedy, and comedy, this work illuminates the strategies used to justify, constrain, and deflate the threatening aspects of violence. The mixed results of these strategies also demonstrate how the figure of Heracles inherently - and stubbornly - resists reform. The diverse character of Heracles' violent acts reveals an enduring tension in understanding violence: is violence a negative individual trait, that is to say, the manifestation of an internal state of hostility? Or is it one specific means to a preconceived end, rather like an instrument whose employment may or may not be justified? Katherine Lu Hsu explores these evolving attitudes towards individual violence in the ancient Greek world while also shedding light on timeless debates about the nature of violence itself"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Intro

Half-Title Page

Dedication

Series Page

Title Page

Contents

List of Figures

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1 Heraclean Force and the Representation of Violence

2 Hero or Monster? Justifying Violence against Geryon

3 Heroic Competition and the Home in Sophocles' Trachiniae

4 Coping with Violence: Victory and Friendship in Euripides' Heracles

5 Heracles the Fool: Laughing at Violence

Conclusion: Which Path Did Heracles Choose?

Notes

References

Index

Copyright

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN:

9781350153745

1350153745

9781350153738

1350153737

9781350153721

1350153729

OCLC:

1157349276