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An Amazon in Athens.Pdf An Amazon in Athens Gendered Correlation and Political Association in Sophocles’ Trachiniae by Gesthimani Seferiadi A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philology (Classical Studies) in the University of Patras 2019 Doctoral Committee: Associate Professor Efimia D. Karakantza, Chair Professor Vayos Liapis Professor Barbara Goff 1 2 ABSTRACT This thesis seeks to explore the gendered politics in Sophocles’ Trachiniae. In particular, in the first chapter, I suggest that Deianeira’s Amazonian prehistory introduces from the outset a paradoxical and unstable symbol of similarity and difference that creates tension between masculinity and femininity. Following that, in the second chapter, I discuss the remote and monstrous un-political setting that is defined by disclaimers of marriage and illicit sexualities, namely Herakles and his monstrous competitors (Acheloos, Nessos), in order to argue that this world is juxtaposed to the social sustainability that is ensured through the well-being of the oikos. With an Amazon being placed within the civilized arrangement of an oikos, Trachiniae negotiates the locus of the female and advocates the need to expel the monstrous sexualities from the polis. Within the blurred boundaries of gender distinctions, however, it is striking that the sustainability of the oikos and the polis is projected onto the female pole while the male is deployed to project their destruction. Next, in the third chapter, through a discussion of the marital narratives of the drama, I follow the way this irregular mythical material is civilized to be included within a structure that repeatedly refers to marriage. It will appear that the structure of the play is formed on the basis of repeated distortions of the wedding ritual, and consequently of nuptial gender categories, so that the entire synthesis can be read as the dramatization of three potential marriages, two ‘death as marriage’ ceremonies and a funeral. In the fourth chapter, I focus on Deianeira’s interaction with the monstrous Centaur and the problematic of this exchange, which I read as the reasonable and unpreventable consequence of an already corroded network of reciprocities. As a follow up to this exchange, I look closer at the play’s proposal as far as the consequences of this deed are concerned and in relation to different systems of justice. Finally, in my last chapter, I examine the end of the play within the frame of the patriarchal structures of Greek tragedy, and in particular in view of dramatic and patriarchal authority. With Deianeira being absent, this concluding part seems to function as a defense against the collapse of gender boundaries and as an attempt to reinstate the impaired gender order. Still, Hyllos’ stance and Deianeira’s dynamic absence provoke a protest against this attempt, a protest which succeeds in enhancing the dynamics of negotiation in which the play has invested. 3 4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was conducted in the Department of Philology of the University of Patras, under the supervision of Associate Professor Efimia D. Karakantza (2015-2019). So, firstly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor for her continuous support in many respects. It was definitely her deep insight that prompted, inspired and influenced my study of the Sophoclean text but, even more significantly, her profound generosity at all levels that guided me continuously while writing this thesis. I could not have imagined having a better mentor for my PhD studies. I warmly thank her for all her positive attitude. My sincere thanks also go to the rest of my thesis committee, Professor Barbara Goff and Professor Vayos Liapis who encouraged me to improve my writing and widen my research from various perspectives. Working as prominent scholars in the field of Greek tragedy, they have both greatly enhanced my work with insightful comments. But, more importantly, their keen support was a great honour for me. For all their contributions, I am deeply grateful to both. The guidance of this committee of experts resulted in great improvement of my thesis but, needless to say, all remaining oversights remain mine. I also need to acknowledge the support of the Department of Philology, University of Patras, who gave me the opportunity to join their team as a PhD student and provided me with access to the research facilities. Special thanks go to Gregory Nagy amd the people behind the Center of Hellenic Studies Fellowship Program, who invited me for an official visit to the Center in 2017-2018, gave me full access to the resources of the library and the opportunity to share my ideas with the members of the community on campus. Finally, of particular importance for the completion of this dissertation was the funding of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) and the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI), which granted me a scholarship (2017-2019) under the Action “1st HFRI Announcement for PhD Candidates”. Without their precious support, it would not have been possible to complete this research task. I could not fail to mention my thanks to my friends for the stimulating discussions and for all the good time we have had in the last four years, especially beneficial in relieving stressful moments. Lastly, it goes without saying that I am deeply grateful to my family for supporting me spiritually throughout my doctoral studies and my life in general. Writing a dissertation is a laborious task, and it is only the security of the people who are mentally close to you that makes it possible to bring it to an end. 5 6 Contents ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................................... 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................................... 5 INTRODUCTION: Sophocles’ Trachiniae: Where Does the Feminine Belong? ...................................... 9 General Review of Scholarship ..................................................................................................... 10 Trachiniae and Feminism ............................................................................................................. 17 Where Does the Feminine Belong: Thesis Outline and Theoretical Preface .................................. 25 Outline of the Thesis’ Structure ............................................................................................... 25 The Female Subject .................................................................................................................. 26 ‘Deianeira’s Claim’: Paraphrasing and Affirming Butler’s Model ............................................... 31 Dynamic Silence ....................................................................................................................... 33 Female Subject of Law ............................................................................................................. 35 CHAPTER 1: An Amazon in Athens: A Retrieval of Pre-Sophoclean Deianeira ................................... 40 CHAPTER 2: Deianeira and the Monsters: Monsters, Gender and the Polis ...................................... 54 The Monster and Monster Studies ............................................................................................... 54 The Monsters and the Female ..................................................................................................... 58 Acheloos and Nessos: Biological and Political Monsters ............................................................... 60 Herakles: The Culture Hero and the Monster ............................................................................... 73 CHAPTER 3: What Went Wrong? Three Weddings, Two Deaths and a Funeral ................................. 82 PART 1: Introductory Remarks ..................................................................................................... 82 Marriage and Sexual violence in Trachiniae.............................................................................. 82 Marriage and Athenian Tragedy ............................................................................................... 83 Marriage as Rape in Trachiniae ................................................................................................ 88 PART 2: Mirrored Weddings and Sexual Violence ......................................................................... 93 Deianeira’s Extraordinary Μarriage.......................................................................................... 93 The End of Toils for Deianeira ................................................................................................ 100 Whose Wedding Song? .......................................................................................................... 107 The Displacement of the Bride ............................................................................................... 111 Mirrored Weddings and Sexual Violence ................................................................................ 121 Acheloos and Herakles: Rapists or Suitors? ............................................................................ 133 PART 3: Rape to Death ............................................................................................................... 136 Nessos’ Dirty Ferrying: Rape to Death ...................................................................................
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