The Politics of Youth in Greek Tragedy: Gangs of Athens

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This bold new set of interpretations of tragedy offers innovative analyses of the dynamic between politics and youth in the ancient world. By exploring how tragedy responded to the fluctuating attitudes to young people at a highly turbulent time in the history of Athens, Shipton sheds new light on ancient attitudes to youth. Focusing on famous plays, such as Sophocles Antigone and Euripides Bacchae, alongside lesser known tragedies such as Euripides Heraclidae and Orestes, Shipton uncovers compelling evidence to show that the complex and often paradoxical views we hold about youth today can also be found in the ancient society of classical Athens. Shipton argues that the prominence of young people in tragedy throughout the fifth century reflects the persistent uncertainty as to what their role in society should be. As the success of Athens rose and then fell, young characters were repeatedly used by tragic playwrights as a way to explore political tensions and social upheaval in the city. Throughout his text, Shipton reflects on how negative conceptualisations of youth, often expressed via the socially constructed gang are formed as a way in which paradoxical views on youth can be contained.

Reviews

Silenced and sacrificed, the young adults of classical Athens were often exploited. Shiptons lucid, passionate and pioneering reading of tragedy illuminates both their experience and the inter-generational conflicts of today. * Edith Hall, Professor of Classics, King's College London, UK *
Matthew Shipton draws skilfully on sociology and anthropology in his analysis of the politics of youth in Greek tragedy. This impressive book adds a new dimension to the study of ancient drama. * Phiroze Vasunia, Professor of Greek, University College London, UK *
This book is a concise introductory foray into the role of youth in Greek tragedy A stimulating book that does effectively make the case for youth studies in the Classics. Scholars of tragedy will experience the book as a welcome nudge to consider old issues in new ways. The impetus to understand the youthful characters of tragedy beyond their place within familial structures (particularly father-son relationships) is especially refreshing and will, one hopes, prompt new investigations into the portrayal of young people in the literature of the 5th century and beyond. * The Classical Journal *
This is an in-depth work that draws on current theoretical scholarship beyond the world of Classics, and makes insightful use of sociological research. * Minerva *

Author Bio

Matthew Shipton is an independent scholar. His PhD was received from King's College London, UK.