Language, Sexuality, Narrative: The Oresteia

Language, Sexuality, Narrative: The Oresteia
Simon Goldhill | 2004-05-20 00:00:00 | Cambridge University Press | 328 | Classics
This book is concerned with the complexity and difficulty of reading the Oresteia. It is not a traditional commentary, although it is often concerned with problems of interpretation and language, nor is it simply what is generally understood by a literary study, although it often discusses the wider themes of the narrative. It is a close reading of the text concentrating on the developing meanings of words within the structuring of the play. In particular, Simon Goldhill focuses on the text's interests in language and its control, in sexuality and sexual difference, and in the progression and description of events. Dr Goldhill links a sound philological knowledge with material drawn widely from modem literary theory and anthropological studies. The result is a challenging and provocative book, which offers for the serious student of Greek drama an exciting range of insights into one of the most important texts of the ancient world.
Reviews
Goldhill's study of Aeschylus' Oresteia, arguably one of the world's great masterpieces of dramatic art, was a landmark in its time (1984), and the proof of its durability is the fact that it has been reissued (2004) and remains in print these many years later. It is not an easy read; it aims to get to the heart of the difficult and complex language of Aeschylus and the problems of reading and interpretation through a series of different lenses, including deconstruction and psychoanalysis. But throughout it remains a work of impeccable scholarship and brilliant vision. The previous reviewer was obviously not up to the challenge. Disregard his invidious remarks.
Reviews
Nobody bought this book because it was panned by the acdemic press. It is dire. If you should stumble caross a second-hand copy, do the world a favour. Burn it.

I will never forgive Goldhill for the hours of my life that I wasted reading this tripe.

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