Euripides and the Poetics of Nostalgia

Branded by critics from Aristophanes to Nietzsche as sophistic, iconoclastic, and sensationalistic, Euripides has long been held responsible for the demise of Greek tragedy. Despite this reputation, his drama has a fundamentally conservative character. It conveys nostalgia for an idealized age that still respected the gods and traditional codes of conduct. Using deconstructionist and feminist theory, this book investigates the theme of the lost voice of truth and justice in four Euripidean tragedies. The plays' unstable mix of longing for a transcendent voice of truth and skeptical analysis not only epitomizes the discursive practice of Euripides' era but also speaks to our postmodern condition. The book sheds new light on the source of the playwright's tragic power and enduring appeal, revealing the surprising relevance of his works for our own day.

• Sheds new light on a great classical playwright and the source of his tragic power and enduring appeal
• Brings to life the cultural, political, and intellectual context of late fifth-century BC Athens, a defining moment for Western culture
• Draws provocative parallels between the crises, wars, and culture wars of Euripides' era and our own