The Politics of Youth in Greek Tragedy: Gangs of Athens (Classical Literature and Society)

Euripides’ Bacchae was first performed in 405 BCE, on the eve of Athens’ defeat in the Peloponnesian War. This explosive and heart-rending dramatization of an ancient myth uses the character of a young king to explore how destructive aspects of youth can contribute towards the collapse of a society. Shipton’s bold new interpretations of tragedy offer innovative analyses of the dynamic between politics and youth in this form of ancient drama. 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 Antigone and Bacchae, alongside lesser known tragedies such as Heraclidae and Orestes, compelling evidence is presented 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 should be their role in society. 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, Shipton reflects on how negative conceptualisations of youth, often expressed via the socially constructed ‘gang’ are formed as a way in which the paradoxical views on youth can be contained. 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. Youth in tragedy's literary forebears and contemporaries -- Intergenerational conflict in the Aeschylean Prometheus -- The politics of age and integration in Sophocles' Antigone -- The cult of the young warrior in Euripides' Heraclidae -- Youth and limitations on personal authority in Sophocles' Philoctetes -- Friendship and generational loyalty in Euripides' Orestes -- Euripides' Bacchae and Iphigenia in Aulis: a gap in the generations and political failure