The Essence Of Tragedy

An elaboration of Hegel's interpretation of Sophocles' Antigone by one of Hegel's own students, first published in German in 1827.

A Man's Character is his Fate (Heraclitus); For man's greatest offence/ Is that he has been born (Calderon); Suffering is the sole origin of consciousness (Dostoevsky); There is no coming to consciousness without pain (Carl Jung). "Wisdom alone comes through suffering," wrote Aeschylus, and playwrights throughout the centuries have explored this concept, their characters displaying the depth of the human spirit when faced with danger, defeat and, frequently, death. Yet, as the Sufi poet Rumi wrote: "The wound is the place where the Light enters you." The Essence of Tragedy looks at a selection of some well-known works from the time of the ancient Greeks to the present day, subtly dealing with major life issues - freedom and fate; revenge and forgiveness; passion, desperation and hope. David Irvin's lucidly written short resumes of the texts provide the backbone of his fascinating and impeccably researched study, making this intelligent and unbiased book a pleasure to read. It forms a companion text to his recent book Shakespeare for All. He is also the author of Facets of Fear (2010) and Novels for Ed (2012). David Irvin has worked in education all his life, mainly teaching literature - in schools, for The Open University and for Adult Education. He now lives in Whitstable, having been born in Stockton-on-Tees and migrated south via York, Cambridge, Oxford, Slough and Broadstairs. He is married and has three children.

"Philosophers, theologians, and literary critics welcome Anderson's stunning translation since Hamann is gaining renewed attention, not only as a key figure of German intellectual history, but also as an early forerunner of postmodern thought. Relationships between Enlightenment, Counter Enlightenment, and Idealism come to the fore as Hegel reflects on Hamann's critiques of his contemporaries Immanuel Kant, Moses Mendelssohn, J.G. Herder, and F.H. Jacobi." "This book is essential both for readers of Hegel or Hamann and for those interested in the history of German thought, the philosophy of religion, language and hermeneutics, or friendship as a philosophical category."--Jacket.

A critical re-examination of the views of Plato, Aristotle, Hegel and Nietzsche on tragedy. Ancient Greek tragedy is revealed as surprisingly modern and experimental, while such concepts as mimesis, catharsis, hubris and the tragic collision are discussed from different perspectives.

Terry Eagleton's Tragedy provides a major critical and analytical account of the concept of 'tragedy' from its origins in the Ancient world right down to the twenty-first century. A major new intellectual endeavour from one of the world's finest, and most controversial, cultural theorists. Provides an analytical account of the concept of 'tragedy' from its origins in the ancient world to the present day. Explores the idea of the 'tragic' across all genres of writing, as well as in philosophy, politics, religion and psychology, and throughout western culture. Considers the psychological, religious and socio-political implications and consequences of our fascination with the tragic.

A selection of essays on tragedy, this volume begins with the premise that any reading of tragedy can be stimulated and enriched by supplementary critical texts which have been selected for precisely those qualities that would enhance one's response to tragedy. The text attempts a reconstruction of the canon of the criticism of tragedy through a critical overview of traditional classical commentary, Russian Formalism, Reader Response Theory, Structuralism, Post-Structuralism, Deconstructionism, and Marxist criticism. Includes selections from the writings of Aristotle, Hegel, Nietzsche, Georg Lukacs, Arthur Miller, Karl Jaspers, Max Sheler, Laurence Michel, Henry Alonzo Myers, Northrop Frye, Albert C. Outler, and others.