While many other Greek tragedies tend to reiterate already established myths and customs, Euripides's Orestes appears to be entirely his own invention. Chronologically, the plot of the play takes place after the events contained in Aeschylus's Libation Bearers. It was first performed in 408 BC, near the close of the Peloponnesian War. In Orestes, Electra recounts the story … Continue reading The Failure of Orestes
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Notes on the Enuma Elish
The Enuma Elish, or "when on high", is named for the opening lines of the poem. It is a fragmented Akkadian poem that borrows from a number of earlier cosmogonies from the Sumerians and Semitic cultures. The Akkadian version, discovered in the ruins of ancient Babylon, exists on seven tablets and has sometimes been called the … Continue reading Notes on the Enuma Elish
The Age of Innocence on Trial
The title of Edith Wharton's most famous and Pulitzer Prize winning novel is most likely derived from a famous painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds. The painting was created sometime between 1785-1788 (see below). Sir Reynolds did not actually title the painting, as the name was given to the work after his death. The painting was … Continue reading The Age of Innocence on Trial
What Is The Old Testament?
The "Old Testament" is a name that has been ascribed by latter religions, primarily Christianity, to various collections of the ancient Hebraic texts. It implies two things: one that the writings of the ancient Israelites, such as the Torah or the wisdom books, represent one whole and consistent "testament". Second, that the testament of the … Continue reading What Is The Old Testament?
The Question of Courage in the Laches
The theme of the Laches is exoterically about the nature of courage (andreia, fortitude, endurance, strength in the face of uncertainty), but on a much closer inspection, the question at hand is of good teaching. What is a good teacher? Two men, Lysimachus and Melesias, bring their two sons to the noted Athenian warriors, Nicias and Laches. … Continue reading The Question of Courage in the Laches
Notes on the Trachiniae
In The Women of Trachis, also called the Trachiniae, Sophocles exposes the audience to the recollections of a domestic woman, Deianira (Greek for "destroyer of husband"), and wife of the great Heracles (Romanized as Hercules). In contract to Aeschylus's portrayal of Clytemnestra at the end of the Trojan War in his Oresteia, the audience is compelled to sympathize … Continue reading Notes on the Trachiniae
A Brief Note on Aeschylean Tragedy
In his day, Aeschylus had published and produced more than ninety plays. Today, seven have survived. We are the fortunate beneficiaries of the complete Oresteia trilogy, telling the story of Orestes in avenging the blood of his father, and also in Zeus declaring the predominance of law, over vengeance. This theme of this emergence of, and protection … Continue reading A Brief Note on Aeschylean Tragedy
Plato’s Republic Book II (Part I): Glaucon and Adeimantus
Glaucon and Adeimantus, both brothers and Athenians (brothers of Plato), make up the bulk of the remainder of the Republic. Both brothers are praised by Socrates for their noble actions as soldiers at Megara and also for their aristocratic lineage, descending from Ariston (meaning "excellence"). The Battle of Megara was a crucial victory for the Athenians … Continue reading Plato’s Republic Book II (Part I): Glaucon and Adeimantus
The Navigator
9/5/2016 The Navigator (1924) Director: Buster Keaton and Donald Crisp The Navigator is another classic Buster Keaton film, and one of his first great films, following Sherlock, Jr. It contains some of Keaton's best stunts and is based on the screenplay by Clyde Bruckman, a writer for other great comedies, including the works of W.C. Fields, Laurel and Hardy, … Continue reading The Navigator
Aristotle, Oedipus, and Greek Tragedy
There is a rigorous debate among scholars that has perpetuated for hundreds of years, dating back to Aristotle, about whether or not the purpose, or telos, of a tragedy is to determine a particular character flaw of the central protagonist. That is, to inquire about whether or not Oedipus is, indeed, a flawed human being who has, somehow, … Continue reading Aristotle, Oedipus, and Greek Tragedy
