Grief Flashcards
Influence of grief on the play
universal motif (settles with everyone - modern and old) but not in the same way (old: war, fresh)
Persians and Greeks both experienced losses at the battle
-> motif that is explored in the play but also v familiar to the audience (only just beat Persians - will still remember the “cloaks” and “carpet” and death)
A deliberately includes Persian deep grief to remind audience of their deep emotions & wartime feelings (fear)
Has the ability to unite Greeks with Persians in sympathy (everyone has lost people & scale of Persian loss = great)
Aeschylus’ personal experiences
A lost his brother @ Marathon -> he too shares with grief of Persians etc. and he fought at Salamis
-> play not just about Greek victory but sympathy for the Persians
Differences in grief
grief in Greece vs Persia v. diff
-> Persians tear clothes etc.
=> deal with death in very different ways
Ill-fated youth
parents without children
“mother-country mourning” “flower of Asian youth”
“the land that nursed them now grieves with ardent longing” “quakes our hearts”
continues to mention “flower” “youth” “manhood” “mothers” reminds you of who has died & how young -> amplifies loss of future
How is grief presented?
makes Persians believe Persia is over forever
chorus & Xerxes tear clothes & cry in sorrow @ end => extreme grief “oriental mourning”
opens with worried courtiers & goes downhill from there as they find out what was happened to the army (continues but developing motif -> grief deepens and becomes more raw)
loss = similar t =o the destruction of the Persian empire apparently (extreme) HYPERBOLE -> grief makes you rash & dramatic
“his despair heap grief on grief”
->everyone in Persia grieves
“break, heart; flow, tears, for ever”
- v broken rhythm etc.
=> emphasises grief and despair
Women
Persian women = ones who grieve (role)
“bedew their folded bosoom” (extreme)
“countless women, partners in one grief”
