Erechtheus by Algernon Charles Swinburne
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"Erechtheus" by Algernon Charles Swinburne is a tragedy written in the late 19th century. This dramatic work centers on the themes of sacrifice, duty, and the struggles of leadership within the context of ancient Athens. The narrative unfolds primarily through the voices of Erechtheus, the Athenian king, and his family, highlighting their profound emotional and moral dilemmas in the face of impending doom. At the start of the play, Erechtheus speaks to
the Earth, his mother, expressing his distress over a dire prophecy that threatens his city. He is faced with the terrible ultimatum from the gods that one life is required to save Athens. The opening portion establishes the tension between duty to one’s homeland and the personal sacrifices demanded of its leaders. As the dialogue shifts between Erechtheus, his wife Praxithea, and their daughter Chthonia, the weight of their impending decisions becomes increasingly palpable, paving the way for the exploration of love, life, and the horrors of war that permeate the tragedy. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Swinburne, Algernon Charles, 1837-1909 |
|---|---|
| Title |
Erechtheus A Tragedy (New Edition) |
| Credits |
Produced by Thierry Alberto, Taavi Kalju and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 66.4 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | English drama |
| Subject | Tragedies (Drama) |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 18550 |
| Release Date | Jun 11, 2006 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 292 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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