La construction de l’identité dans la Thébaïde : Hérédité, rôles types et identité par correspondance comme mécanismes de construction du soi

Details

Supervisors

Kachuck, Aaron

Faculty

Faculté de philosophie, arts et lettres

Degree label

Master [120] en langues et lettres anciennes et modernes, à finalité didactique

Abstract

enThe formation of identity is central to the Thebaid. Polynices, the poem's main hero, is in constant search for his self, seeking his own individuality to distinguish himself from his brother. Caught between mutliple potential versions of himself, Polynices is torn apart between several determinisms and various points of reference for constructing his own identity. Polynices' identity crisis is at the root of the events in the narrative. Comprehending it properly is thus essential to interpret the epic as a whole. However, he is not the only character in quest for an identity. Almost every somewhat developed character in the epic is also in search of a self which always turns out to be problematic and deficient. Our analysis consists of exposing the various determining influences and possible mechanisms of identity formation used by the characters in the Thebaid. We will focus on hereditary determinism, construction in reference to an abstract model, and construction in reference to another existing character, either through direct mimicry or by means of opposition. Understanding how Statius' characters are constructed reveals the richness of the Thebaid. Despite his choice of a well-known story and a thoroughly codified genre, the poet manages to remain innovative in challenging certain conventions of the genre and of narration in general.