Greek Tragedy and the Ethics of Revenge
Abstract
One of the most disturbing features of our contemporary world is the passion for revenge, which shows no signs of becoming a thing of the past – a type of motivation to be associated with ‘primitive’, ‘uncivilised’ or ‘pre-Enlightenment’ societies. Perhaps this helps to explain why Greek tragedy continues to be so popular in the theatre, and with ever more diverse audiences, or that plays like Medea , Hecuba and Orestes , not to mention the Oresteia , which explore revenge with particular directness, are chosen for what seems like their relevance to our own times.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Classical Antiquity Studies
Classical Philosophy and Thought
Ethics
Aesthetics
and Art
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Pages
- 289–304
- Publication date
- 27 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter