Seneca: Thyestes

by Peter J. Davis

Written in Nero s Rome in about A.D. 62, Seneca s Thyestes is one of the greatest and most influential of classical tragedies. As the bloodiest work in the Greco-Roman canon, Thyestes was long reviled for its depiction of savage violence and for its representation of human bestiality. Peter Davis argues that the play needs to be understood as the response of a major politician, philosopher and tragic poet to the increasingly tyrannical rule of the emperor. In this companion he explores key aspects of the pay, including the circumstances of its composition, its performance history and its impact on subsequent dramatists, including Shakespeare and Jonson.

Genres: Classics

174 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A classic, very brutal, but interesting

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this play, especially with its gory descriptions.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I ultimately found this book disappointing. At first I appreciated the directness with which Davis dealt with Seneca and the play but by the time I got to the reception chapter I realized how little had been covered. The themes and issues chapter is the most informative but, like all of the material, simple. One would have to be an idiot not to grasp the main themes of "Thyestes." I did find it helpful when Davis would bring in material from other Seneca writings e.g. "De Ira." I would only recommend this book if you want a really basic grasp of the material.