Madness in Greek tragedy: a critique of some selected extant plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides

Abstract

Madness features prominently in Greek tragedy. Indeed, the theme of madness, its treatment and dramatic illustration contribute to the aim of this genre, which Aristotle identifies as the arousal and the purgation of pity and fear. In this thesis, the existence of two categories of madness: tragic and non-tragic madness, is proposed, and the argument is advanced that both are a consequence of the circumstances of the hero. In this regard, the view is put forward that whereas tragic madness is consistent with the hamartia principle, which accords no moral depravity to the madness that consumes the hero, the hubristic principle by contrast does indeed attach moral depravity to the calamity (madness) that befalls the hero, which is also consistent with non-tragic madness. Based on this premise, the study supports a comparison of the tragedians’ notion of madness and proposes a synthesis of the notion of madness and its treatment in Greek tragedy. To achieve this, an integration is recommended of the psychoanalytic and the socio-psychological theories or methodologies in the interpretation and critique of the either tragic or non-tragic madness of Aeschylus’ Orestes in The Choephori, Sophocles’ Ajax in Ajax and Euripides’ Heracles, Orestes and Pentheus in Heracles, Orestes and The Bacchae respectively. The integration of the psychoanalytic and the socio-psychological theories in the interpretation of the either tragic or non-tragic madness of the heroes mentioned seeks to prove that madness in ancient Greek tragedy may be appropriated from or for psychoanalytic and/or socio-psychological functions or purposes.