Yuyao Sun, 2024-2025 Fenwick Scholar

Abstract

The dramatic nature of the Platonic dialogues has long been noticed by their readers. To what extent is this by then still novel genre rooted in the literary tradition of Attic tragedy, or the Greek theatrical culture in general? In what ways, if at all, is the Platonic philosophy a continuation or a transformation of the Greek stage? Or, in turn, is there not only action that is performed in the Greek theater, but also philosophy? This study, which focuses primarily on Plato’s Symposium and Euripides’ Bacchae, intends to respond to these questions by analyzing prominent themes in both works such as erotic love and wisdom, especially as they intersect with the representation of family, nature, city, and customs