Synopses & Reviews
Metatheater, or "theater within theater," is a critical approach often used in studies of Shakespearian or modern drama. Breaking new ground in the study of ancient Greek tragedy, Mark Ringer applies the concept of metatheatricality to the work of Sophocles. His innovative analysis sheds light on Sophocles' technical ingenuity and reveals previously unrecognized facets of fifth-century performative irony.
Ringer analyzes the layers of theatrical self-awareness in all seven
Sophoclean tragedies, giving special attention to Electra, the
playwright's most metatheatrical work. He focuses on plays within plays,
characters who appear to be in rivalry with their playwright in "scripting"
their dramas, and the various roles that characters assume in their attempts to deceive other characters or even themselves. Ringer also examines instances of literal role playing, exploring the implications of the Greek convention of sharing multiple roles among only three actors.
Sophocles has long been praised as one of the masters of dramatic
irony. Awareness of Sophoclean metatheater, Ringer shows, deepens our appreciation of that irony and reveals the playwright's keen awareness of his art.
Review
This superb book is so well-elaborated, cogent, and revealing that my jaw would drop every few pages.
Richard Hornby, University of California, Riverside
Synopsis
Applies the concept of metatheater, or "theater within theater" to the work of Sophocles. Analyzes all seven Sophoclean tragedies, revealing previously unrecognized facets of fifth-century performative irony.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 235-246) and index.
About the Author
Mark Ringer is assistant professor of theater history and literature at Denison University. He has also worked extensively as an actor, director, dramaturg, and critic in the United States and Europe.
Table of Contents
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1. Introduction
Polus and the Urn
Metatheater and the Greeks
Chapter 2. Politics, Sophism, and Deception
Thucydides, Pisistratus, and Solon Gorgias
Chapter 3. Ajax: The Staging of a Hero
Chapter 4. Trachiniae: Staging a Double Hero
Chapter 5. The Theban Plays: Illusion into Reality
Antigone
Oedipus Tyrannus
Oedipus at Colonus
Chapter 6. Philoctetes: Roles within Roles, Plays within a Play
Chapter 7. Electra
Prologue
Electra and the Eccylema of Logos
Chrysothemis and Clytemnestra
Lying Words
Undanceable Shames: Electra Rewrites Her Play
Small Dust in a Little Urn: Nothing into Nothing
The Unshakable Hounds
Notes
Bibliography
Index