I plan on discovering what moral obligation is and why the protagonists of the story have such differing views upon it. Finally I will need to identify areas for further study and research. I would expect that a more broad range of source material would help with a more detailed work; especially by incorporating Aeschylus’ plays thus allowing my study to encompass several ‘ages’ in Greek theatre and attitudes.
Methodology
The final essay will need to follow a tight course if it is to achieve all of my objectives. To do this I will first have to select one or two pieces of literature to form my primary assessment on. Sophocles’ and Euripdies’ Electra and Aescylus’ Orestia are the main plays of interest with the Orestia offering a unique perspective as it encompasses the entire tragic story in a trilogy. Sophocles’ Electra has an advantage as I have just studied the play in a similar direction towards the meaning of justice that is directly relevant to this study. The Orestia may be too much to work with only 3,000 words available for the final essay though it would be useful for a more thorough analysis at a later date. A contrasting pair of tragic and melodrama from Sophocles and Euripides will be my preferred choice for now. The translations by Watling (Sophocles, Translator Watling, E.F., ‘Electra and other plays’, 1953, Penguin Books) and Davie (Euripides, Translator Davie, J., ‘Electra and other plays’, 1998, Penguin Books)
The two plays will need to be split into several key themes that can then be compared to each other rather than as one play versus another. These themes can comprise of such events as Clytaemnestra player, her argument(s) with Electra, the scene of the final murders and the motivations and character of Orestes. I would like to choose no more that 4 key themes from the plays given me a total of 8 extracts to compare and analyse. Euripides’ version of Electra differs in that it acts as a kind of parody of Aeschylus’ version of events, especially in that Electra and Orestes commit suicide. This perhaps represents slightly different attitudes expressed by Euripides towards the duty to a murdered father and to the responsibility that comes with that act. It may not be ideal to compare similar passages but there are themes of similarity such as the Clytaemnestra justification of her murders that is relevant to all accounts. The way that Orestes bitterly protests (Sophocles, Translator Watling, E.F., ‘Electra and other plays’, Introduction pg 9, 1953, Penguin Books) in Euripides play at what he ‘must’ do highlights the struggle between his obligation and what he feels he should do.
Recent studies into both the plays and the concepts will be critical in assisting my understanding of the problems portrayed in the plays. Zimmerman (Zimmerman, M.J, ‘The Concept of Moral Obligation’, 1996, Cambridge University Press) discusses a range of philosophical problems concerning obligation and its application and whilst not directly related to the field of Classics could be highly useful. Two recent pieces by Blundell, (Blundell, M.W. Block Three Offprints, ‘Helping Friends and Harming Enemies’, 1989) and Adkins, (A.W.H. ‘Merit and Responsibility: A Study in Greek Values’, Oxford 1960) were looked at in my study of Dike and contained some useful material on the similar areas of moral obligation and duty. They will be both useful and familiar to me. These studies tie in perfectly with the idea of moral dilemmas and duty and will contrast well with the non-classical work by Zimmerman.
For study in the role of the Gods the work by Burkert and Raffan, (Burkert, W and Raffan, J, ‘Greek Religion’, 1987, Blackwell Publishers) is a good starting point. This book contains some excellent material on the religion of the Greeks themselves and how it affected their lives, especially with regards to important decisions. To back this up the work by Price (Price, S, ‘Religions of the Ancient Greeks’, 1999, Cambridge University Press) examines how religion affected political as well as social life.
Possible Problems
There are several key problems that I will find upon my study of this subject, the first of which is the selection of source material to make use of. Even with the study of the actually plays the material is covered by three of the most famous playwrights, Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. The in-depth study of the story of Electra and Orestes is out of the question for a work this small and by selecting one or two plays I will be hampering a full understanding of the topic of duty. This is a necessity given the space available and I must be very careful not to over extend and make it clear where further work could and should be carried out.
The second problem is that of studying the plays in translation. This creates many difficulties, especially when comparing different plays by different playwrights and translators. Much of the original meaning can be lost and it is up to me to use varied translations and rely upon other more recent literature and analysis to bridge any gaps.
The greatest problem of all however is space. This topic could easily form the part of a major dissertation on the idea of moral obligation in the plays of a particular playwright or across a genre. I must not try to produce a mini dissertation but a concise answer to my question.
Bibliography
Collins English Dictionary, Millennium Edition, 2000, pg 1010, Harper Collins
Sophocles, Translator Watling, E.F., ‘Electra and other plays’, 1953, Penguin Books
Euripides, Translator Davie, J., ‘Electra and other plays’, 1998, Penguin Books
Bibliography for final essay
Liddell and Scotts, ‘Greek-English Lexicon’, Intermediate, 1889
This definitive volume is essential in the study of the primary meanings of the words and concepts I am planning on studying.
Feyerabend, K, ‘Greek-English Dictionary’, 1918, David McKay Publishing
Though much smaller in scale than LS work it is better for ‘getting started’ and subsequent study can then progress to LS.
Collins English Dictionary, Millennium Edition, 2000, Harper Collins
Important for the modern usage of the terms I am studying.
Sophocles, Translator Watling, E.F., ‘Electra and other plays’, 1953, Penguin Books
An excellent translatinon with a very useful introduction and analysis of the play and its place in Greek theatre and tradition.
Euripides, Translator Davie, J., ‘Electra and other plays’, 1998, Penguin Books
An ideal contrasting play to that of Sophocles with a slight twist on the ‘conventional’ plot. Davie’s edition also contains some important notes on the text.
Hornblower S, Oxford Classical Dictionary, 1996
Standard reference for moral ideas, obligation, duty, honour and justice that are all relevant to my work. The articles on religion are also of much importance along with the additional material on the playwrights studied in the essay.
Blundell, M.W. Block Three Offprints, ‘Helping Friends and Harming Enemies’, 1989, pg 331
Zimmerman, M.J, ‘The Concept of Moral Obligation’, 1996, Cambridge University Press
Though unrelated to the study of Classics the material covered is what much of Classics is all about! The sections on problems concerning obligation are of the most importance to this work.
Adkins, A.W.H. ‘Merit and Responsibility: A Study in Greek Values’, Oxford 1960)
This study ties in perfectly with the idea of moral dilemmas and duty. This will contrast well with the non-classical work by Zimmerman.
Williams. B, ‘Ethics and the Limits of Philosophy’, 1985, Cambridge
Williams’ work covered a wide range of ethical and morals areas and his research is relatively recent.
Kitto, H.D.F, ‘Greek Tragedy’, 1997, Routledge
An excellent general work covering all of the key playwrights and their plays. The information on the key dilemmas of each play and the differing approaches used is over great importance to my study.#
Burkert, W and Raffan, J, ‘Greek Religion’, 1987, Blackwell Publishers
This book contains some excellent material on the religion of the Greeks themselves and how it affected their lives, especially with regards to important decisions, moral dimemnas and of duty.
Price, S, ‘Religions of the Ancient Greeks’, 1999, Cambridge University Press
A useful companion to the work of Burkert and Raffan, especially in the differences between regions and cities over a period of time.