Shakespeare en de Grieken
- Nicole Rowan
Abstract
The Greeks play a prominent role in two plays by William Shakespeare: Timon of Athens and Troi'lus and Cressida. Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens is a complex exploration of a corrupt, moneyed society. The protagonist is a combination of a failed tragic hero and a rich and philanthropic nobleman, surrounded by greed and sycophancy; this character is forced to recognize the inherent destructiveness of the Athenian society from which he retreats in disgust and rage. Audiences or readers familiar with Homer’s Iliad must be prepared for a shock when confronting Troilus and Cressida. Whereas Homer celebrates a heroic conflict culminating in the epic battle between Hector and Achilles, Shakespeare focuses on a love story which, like the events of the Trojan War itself, he treats with a great deal of skepticism, even cynicism. This unfamiliar reworking of traditional material produces a darkly ironic view of sexuality and politics that feels familiarly modern.
How to Cite:
Rowan, N., (2005) “Shakespeare en de Grieken”, Tetradio 14(1): 3, 33–50. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tetradio.91975
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