The Relation between Seneca’s Hercules Furens and Aristotle’s Poetics
The intent of this paper is to discuss Seneca’s Hercules Furens in relation to Aristotle’s description of tragedy as outlined in the Poetics. It begins by discussing character, and attempts to determine the nature of Hercules’ error (a(marti/a).1[1] The paper then discusses matters of plot (mu~qoj), attempting to determine the degree to which Hercules Furens meets Aristotle’s requirements for good tragedy in this regard.
According to Aristotle, the best tragedy evokes feelings of fear and pity.2[2] Since characters in a tragedy must perform action (pra~cij), it follows that the best tragedy must contain some action that is repugnant (mia&ron) or terrible, so as
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Yet the answer may in fact be quite simple: Hercules commits an error when he murders his wife and children. This act comes closest to Aristotle’s examples of Oedipus and Thyestes8[8] who, like Hercules, were unaware of their crimes while they were committing them, but extremely remorseful when they discovered what they had done. Hercules cannot be held accountable for the murders he commits, for they are the result of a mistake, as Amphitrion says: luctus est istic tuus, / crimen novercae (1200-01), “sorrow in this is yours, the crime is your stepmother’s.” Later Amphitrion says: quis nomen usquam sceleris errori addidit (1337), “who ever gave the name of crime to an error?”
Thus the murders are not the result of any “vice or wickedness” that Hercules may have, but rather they are the simply the result of an error that he makes while he is mad. The result of this error is in keeping with Aristotle’s definition: Hercules suffers a change of fortune for the worse. Furthermore, the madness comes upon him through no fault of his own but by the anger of Juno. G. Lawall makes this clear with a
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Aristotle believes that the plot is the most important part of a tragedy. The best kind of plot, he says, is a complex rather than a simple plot. A complex plot is “one in which a change of fortune occurs with reversal or recognition or both.”10[10] Reversal (peripe/teia) is “a change of things being done to a contrary [from what is expected].”11[11] Recognition (a)nagnw&rosij), is “a change from ignorance to knowledge”12[12] Aristotle also believes that, of complex plots, the best are those which include both reversal and recognition, and that these occur at the same moment in the play. Furthermore, these aspects of the plot (reversal and recognition) should logically follow from the preceding events, and the whole play should inspire a sense of pity and fear. Let us begin by seeing if Hercules Furens meets these criteria regarding
The attachment theory helps to examine who we form relationships with, why these relationships work or fail, and how the relationships help to develop us in adolescence and on to adulthood. Mary Ainsworth stated a child/infant needed a secure base from where they could explore the world (Bretheron, 1992). Ainsworth stated a secure base is an emotional rich environment (1963). She also formulated the ideal of maternal instincts allow the mother to meet the infants need and with that ability, the infant-mother attachment is solidified. Ainsworth methodology made it possible to test and empirically prove attachment theory (Bretheron, 1992). The attachment theory highlights the importance of a secure base, infants and young
Attachment theory focuses on the bond between a caregiver and a child and how these fragile bonds, if not attended to properly have psychological and social effects on the child’s future. The attachment process itself responds to the developing identity of the child, which is very dependent on the sensitivity and guidance of the caregiver. John Bowlby takes attachment theory in a more biological/ evolutionary perspective, in which he views these formations of bonds as a survival mechanism in which the infant ensures its survival by attaching themselves to an adult (caregiver) who can meet their needs. This take on the attachment theory suggests that parents and infants may be biologically programmed to form an attachment and that every interaction and behavior thereafter facilitates the creation of this bond (Ashford 2013, 266). On a bio-social level children look for this attachment because they are biologically wired to be related to others and be social creatures. Regardless if the attachment theory is taken through a biological,
In 1918 when World War I ended, American society and culture changed immediately after. World War I resulted in the death of nine million soldiers and twenty one million wounded. Families were left mourning the loss of their relatives and people titled World War I as a “war to end all war.” With the nation going through such tragedy, change was bound to happen. During the 1920s there was a change in consumer culture, art, music and literature. So much changed happened during the 1920s that it’s referred to as the roaring twenties. Entertainment was on a rise and the way that Americans were used to living started to change. Along with that came immigration laws that changed American culture as well.
During the Roaring Twenties, women changed their actions. The 1920s was an explosion of color and a period of escapism. The young women began to set themselves free. The changing role of women was a result from all the work they did during World War I. The younger generation rejected values and customs of their parents’ generation. The young women no longer wanted to be the guardians of morality, dressing in a modest way and refraining from drinking, dancing, and smoking. They wanted to have the freedom to wear short skirts and ride in cars with their boyfriends. Because of all the deaths of World War I, the new generation felt the need to live freely and enjoy life. Young women and men who returned from the war experienced cultures with different customs and standards.
Paula Fass’s The Damned and the Beautiful: American Youth in the 1920's delves into the social and cultural climate of the 1920’s middle-class youth in America. Fass observes the multidimensional dynamics of the post-World War I society as citizens adjust to pertinent matters such as industrialization, prohibition and immigration. Amidst the ongoing social, political and economical issues of the early twentieth century, youth played an active role in contemporary life. Adolescents responded to issues through altering their habits, behaviors and viewpoints. Their responses became evident in the public setting and American culture evolved. The transformation of American culture was spearheaded by youth who questioned and went against cultural norms of past generations. Societal changes were visible through family, education, socialization, fashion and style and dating and sexuality.
This paper is but a brief overview of this topic and a great deal more research not included in this paper has been devoted to the biopsychosocial influences of genetic predisposition, parents, daycare providers, the daycare environment, and the many other factors that effect children that attend daycare. However, it’s encouraging to know that progress is being made in the development of a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment for our children at this most vulnerable age.
The Roaring Twenties was America’s golden age. F. Scott Fitzgerald once said,“The parties were bigger, the pace was faster, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher, the morals were looser, and the liquor was cheaper” (“People” PBS). The cultural undertone of the twenties was very different from the times before and during World War I. “ For the first time, more Americans lived in cities than on farms…people from coast to coast bought the same goods…listened to the same music, did the same dances, and even used the same slang” (“Roaring” History). The Twenties was a time of social and cultural change. During this time, things like the automobile and jazz became more popular and mainstream. These things were possible because America
To some an acorn is just an acorn, nothing more than a nut. The acorn with its tough leathery outside and rich amber color signifies nothing more than the commencement of autumn. To others it represents a great deal of potential. This tiny seed has the ability to endure many adverse effects including long periods of cold temperatures, drought, and human interference. The fragile acorn contains all the necessary elements to become the giant, majestic oak that has come to signify strength. When the conditions are favorable, the little nut will thrive and become an impressive adult tree providing oxygen and shade as nature intended. The most important factor to the budding tree is the environment. Like all other living things, the acorn needs care and ideal circumstances to develop properly. This is also true for humans and their offspring. Creating the perfect environment for an infant to flourish is quite possibly, the single most important factor to the success of a well-adjusted, adult human.
The attachment theory, presented by Mary Ainsworth in 1969 and emerged by John Bowlby suggests that the human infant has a need for a relationship with an adult caregiver, and without a subsequent, development can be negatively impacted (Hammonds 2012). Ainsworth proposes that the type of relationship and “attachment” an infant has with the caregiver, can impact the social development of the infant. As stated by Hammonds (2012), attachment between a mother and a child can have a great impact on the child 's future mental
Odysseus is unique among epic heroes in that his strength comes not from inhuman powers or exceptional physical ability, but mainly from his mind. Odysseus, regularly uses cunning, guile, and superiority of intellect to overcome obstacles. In this paper I will compare Odysseus to other epic heroes, both in terms of character and in terms of responses to crises, comparing his reactions with those of other heroes placed in similar situations.
Virgil. “The Aeneid, Book IV”. The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. 8th ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. 974-95. Print.
This idea is supported by Schaffer and Emerson (1964) who studied the main reason for attachment, through interviews and observations. They performed a longitudinal study of 60 babies at intervals of 1 month for 18 months where they observed the infants in their own home. They found over half the infants had a primary attachment with their mother by 18 months because the mothers responded to the infant’s needs best which promotes
According to Aristotle, a tragedy must be an imitation of life in the form of a serious story that is complete in itself among many other things. Oedipus is often portrayed as the perfect example of what a tragedy should be in terms of Aristotle’s Poetics. Reason being that Oedipus seems to include correctly all of the concepts that Aristotle describes as inherent to dramatic tragedy. These elements include: the importance of plot, reversal and recognition, unity of time, the cathartic purging and evocation of pity and fear, the presence of a fatal flaw in the “hero”, and the use of law of probability.
Naso, Publius O. Ovid: A Legamus Transitional Reader. Trans. Caroline A. Perkins and Denise Davis-Henry. Wauconda, IL: Bolchazy-Carducci, 2007. Print.