Seneca: Hercules Furens

✍ Scribed by Neil W. Bernstein

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Year: 2017
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 170
• Series: Companions to Greek and Roman Tragedy
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Hercules is the best-known character from classical mythology. Seneca’s play Hercules Furens presents the hero at a moment of triumph turned to tragedy. Hercules returns from his final labor, his journey to the Underworld, and then slaughters his family in an episode of madness. This play exerted great influence on Shakespeare and other Renaissance tragedians, and also inspired contemporary adaptations in film, TV, and comics. Aimed at undergraduates and non-specialists, this companion introduces the play’s action, historical context and literary tradition, critical reception, adaptation, and performance tradition.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Half-title
Title
Copyright
Contents
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Preface
1. Introducing Hercules Furens
2. Major Themes in Hercules Furens
3. Monster-slayer, Moral Exemplar, and Madman: Hercules’ Ancient Roles
4. Hercules Furens and Seneca’s Career
5. Performance and Reception
Notes
Further Reading
Bibliography
Chronology
Glossary of Greek and Latin Terms
Index