Transgression and Limits in Euripides' Alkestis

Authors

Leshu Torchin, Portland State University

Subjects

Alcestis (Greek mythology), Social sciences -- Philosophy

Abstract

This paper seeks to understand Euripides' Alkestis in the terms of the transgression described by both Michel Foucault and Longinus. The first section explores transgression as a process that erases the prior limits in order to reconstruct and redefine them. During this process, limits and boundaries are stripped away. A period of horror and liminality ensues in which the meaning of boundaries comes into question. The second section examines the positionality of death as the primary limit that frames the events of the tragedy. The third Section explores the deteriorating functionality of the gender roles held by Admetus and Alkestis. During this time, other structures dependent upon adherence to this categorization as well as the characterization of death also fall apart. The final section works to determine Herakles' role as an embodiment of transgression demonstrating how this figure of liminality re-establishes the lost limits of the drama.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/13139

Recommended Citation

Torchin, Leshu (1995) "Transgression and Limits in Euripides' Alkestis," Anthós Journal (1990-1996): Vol. 1: No. 4, Article 3.
Available at: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/anthos_archives/vol1/iss4/3