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humanities Article Resilience and Euripides’ Heracles Sonia Pertsinidis Article Resilience and Euripides’ Heracles Centre for Classical Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra 2602, Australia; Article [email protected] Sonia Pertsinidis Resilience and Euripides’ Heracles Abstract: In the midst of the current global health crisis, there is ongoing discussion about the need to cultivate resilience, that is, the ability to survive tragic events, adversity and prolonged stress. Centre for ClassicalSonia Studies, Pertsinidis The Australian National University, Canberra 2602, Australia; [email protected] This paper engages in a reading of Euripides’ Heracles, a bold and disturbing tragedy in which the eponymous hero suffers several striking reversals of fortune. After being victimized by Hera and Centre for Classical Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra 2602, Australia; Abstract: In the midst of the current global [email protected] crisis, there destroying is ongoing his discussion family, aboutHeracles the resolv need es to commit suicide. Only two hundred lines to cultivate resilience, that is, the ability to survivelater, tragic he resolves events, to adversity continue to and live. prolonged This change stress. in outlook is remarkable given the traumatic events Abstract: In the midst of the current global health crisis, there is ongoing discussion about the need This paper engages in a reading of Euripides’ Heraclesthat he, ahas bold just and suffered. disturbing How tragedy does Heracles in which find the the strength to endure? What factors bring about to cultivatethis positive resilience, change that is, in the Heracles’ ability to perspective? survive tragic This events, paper adversity will draw and prolonged on findings stress. from modern resil- eponymous hero suffers several striking reversalsThis paper of engages fortune. in After a reading being of Euripides’ victimized Heracles by Hera, a bold and and disturbing tragedy in which the ience research to shed light on Heracles’ decision. It will discuss the complex combination of internal unwittingly destroying his family, Heracles resolveseponymous to commithero suffers suicide. several Only striking two reversals hundred of lines fortune. later, After being victimized by Hera and he resolves to continue to live. This change inunwittingly outlookand external isdestroying remarkable factors his givenfamily,that play theHeracles traumaticinto Heracles’resolv eventses to change commit that of suicide. mind. Only I argue two that hundred the processes lines that Euripi- he has just suffered. How does Heracles findlater, the deshe strength resolves portrays toto continue endure?in his play to What live. dramatize This factors change bringmany in outlook aboutof the thisisprot remarkableective factors given thethat traumatic are said events to promote resilience positive change in Heracles’ perspective? Thisthat paperhein has real willjust life. suffered. draw on How findings does Heracles from modern find the resilience strength to endure? What factors bring about research to shed light on Heracles’ decision.this It will positive discuss change the in complex Heracles’ combination perspective? This of internal paper will and draw on findings from modern resil- ience Keywords:research to shed resilience; light on Heracles’Heracles; decision Theseus;. It will trauma; discuss madness the complex combination of internal external factors that play into Heracles’ change of mind. I argue that the processes that Euripides and external factors that play into Heracles’ change of mind. I argue that the processes that Euripi- portrays in his play dramatize many of thedes protective portrays factorsin his play that dramatize are said many to promote of the prot resilienceective factors in that are said to promote resilience real life. in real life. Keywords: resilience; Heracles; Theseus; trauma;Keywords:1. madness Introduction resilience; Heracles; Theseus; trauma; madness Euripides’ Heracles is not just a psychologically compelling dramatization of mad- ness; it is also a thought-provoking enquiry into heroism (Riley 2008, p. 5; all translations are my own; the Greek text is from Diggle 1981). In classical scholarship, the reasons for Citation: Pertsinidis, Sonia. 2021. 1. Introduction 1. IntroductionResilience and Euripides’ Heracles. Heracles’ rejection of suicide and his heroic decision to live have been variously inter- Euripides’ Heracles is not just a psychologically compelling dramatization of mad- Euripides’HumanitiesHeracles 10:is 44. not https:// just a psychologicallypreted. compelling Some have dramatization argued that Heracles of madness; expresses it a new type of virtue ( ness; it is also a thought-provoking enquiry into heroism (Riley 2008, p. 5; all translations doi.org/10.3390/h10010044 ἀ is also a thought-provoking enquiry into heroismare my own; (Riley the 2008 Greek, p. text 5; all is translationsfrom Diggle 19 are81). my In own; classical scholarship, the reasons for Citation: Pertsinidis, Sonia. 2021. ρετ the Greek textResilience is from and Diggle Euripides’ 1981 Heracles).. In classicalHeracles’ scholarship, rejection of the suicide reasons and for his Heracles’ heroic decision rejection to live have been variously inter- Citation: Pertsinidis, Sonia. 2021. Received: 8 January 2021 of suicide andHumanities his heroic 10: 44. decisionhttps:// to live havepreted. been Some variously have argued interpreted. that Heracles Some expresses have argued a new type of virtue ( Resilience and Euripides’ Heracles. that Heraclesdoi.org/10.3390/h10010044 expressesAccepted: 2 March a new 2021 type of virtue (ἀ $ετή; Chalk 1962, pp. 9–10; James 1969, p. 19); Humanities 10: 44. https://doi.org/ others have arguedPublished: that 4 March it is really2021 Theseus whoρετή saves; Chalk Heracles 1962, pp.(Adkins 9–10; James 1966 ,1969, p. 219) p. .19); Some others have argued that it is really 10.3390/h10010044 see in HeraclesReceived: a new 8 January internalised 2021 “courageTheseus founded who; Chalk onsaves love” 1962, Heracles (Arrowsmith pp. (Adkins9–10; James 19561966,, 1969, p. 2 53;19). p.Riley Some 19); othesee inrs Heracles have argued a new thatinternal- it is really Theseus 2008, pp. 41–42),Accepted:Publisher’s while 2 March Note: others 2021 MDPI see stays a newfound neu-ised “couragewho commitment saves founded Heracles toon human love”(Adkins (Arrowsmith solidarity 1966, p. or 219).195 to6, fate Somep. 53; Rileysee in 2008 Heracles, pp. 41–42), a new while internalised “cour- Received: 8 January 2021 Published: 4 March 2021 others see a newfound commitment to human solidarity or to fate (Papadopoulou 2005, (Papadopouloutral 2005 with, p.regard 182 ; tode jurisdictional Romilly 2003 ,age p. 289).founded For many, on love” it is the(Arrowsmith saving grace 1956, of philia p. 53; Riley 2008, pp. 41–42), while others see a Accepted: 2 March 2021 claims in published maps and institu-p. 182; de Romilly 2003, p. 289). For many, it is the saving grace of philia (friendship) that (friendship) thatPublisher’s is the Note: core MDPI message stays neu- of the playnewfound(Stafford 2012 commitment, p. 92; Gregory to human 2011 ,solidarity pp. 141–49; or to fate (Papadopoulou 2005, p. 182; de Ro- Published: 4 March 2021 tional affiliations. is the core message of the play (Stafford 2012, p. 92; Gregory 2011, pp. 141–49; Papadimi- Papadimitropoulostral with 2008regard, p.to 132;jurisdictional Barlow 1996tropoulosmilly, pp. 2008, 14–16; 2003, p. Yoshitake p.132; 289). Barlow For 1994 1996, many,, pp. pp. 151–53;it 14–1 is the6; YoshitakePadilla saving grace1994, pp.of philia151–53; (friendship) Padilla 1994, that is the core 1994, p. 280; claimsSilk in1985 published, p. maps 2; Bond and institu- 1981,p. pp. 280;message xxii–xxiii). Silk 1985, of p. Morethe 2; Bondplay recently, 1981,(Stafford pp. scholars xxii–xxiii). 2012, have p. 92;More used Gregory recently, 2011, scholars pp. have 141–49; used Papadimitropoulos con- Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral tional affiliations. with regard to jurisdictional claims in contemporary approaches to mental illnesstemporary2008, to explain p.approaches 132; Heracles’ Barlow to mental 1996, madness pp.illness 14–16; (Charlier to explain Yoshitake 2003 Heracles’; 1994, madness pp. 151–53; (Charlier Padilla 2003; 1994, p. 280; Silk published maps and institutional affil- López Saco 2002). Some view HeraclesLópez as a1985, war Saco veteran p.2002). 2; Bond Some recovering view1981, Heracles pp. from xxii–xxiii). combatas a war traumaveteranMore recently, recovering scholars from combat have trauma used contemporary Copyright: © 2021 by the author.(Konstan 2014, pp. 4–6; Meagher 2006, pp. 50, 60). The range of factors identified by schol- iations. (Konstan 2014, pp. 4–6; Meagher 2006, pp. 50,approaches 60). The range to mental of factors illness identified to explain by scholars Heracles’ madness (Charlier 2003; López Saco Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.ars suggests that the situation is complex and that the identification of a single definitive suggests thatCopyright: the situation © 2021 isby complexthe author. and that2002). the identification Some view Heracles of a single as definitive a war vetera reasonn recovering from combat trauma (Konstan This article is an open access articlereason for Heracles’ rejection of suicide is impossible: rather, we should perhaps be ex- for Heracles’Licensee rejection MDPI, of Basel, suicide Switzerland. is impossible:
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