DTIC ADA429721: Greek Fire: Classical Visions of Sex and Violence in Contemporary Irish Literature

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“THESIS

JGREEK FIRE: CLASSICAL VISIONS OF SEX AND VIQLIRNCE IN

| CONTRMPORARY IRISH LITERATURE

JCAPL NCCARIY STEVEN W

[UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA,

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17 REGU EASA THON [TC EECURIY LASSIESRYERT] STE PT TRON OF TEST
(GREEK FIRE: CLASSICAL. VISIONS OF SEX AND VIOLENCE IN
CONTEMPORARY IRISI LITERATURE.

By

Steven Watren MeCarty

Bachclor of Arts
‘West Virgints University, 2000

Subsite in Panta! Fulfillment of the
Requitements forthe Degree of Maver of Ars inthe
Deparment of English
Uctversity of South Carolina

2008

Depertment of Eaglist Depurtinent of English
Direotor of Thesis 2nd Reader

“Dean of the Graduate School
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS ARTICLE ARM.
THOSE. OF THE AUTHOR AND DO NOT REFLECT
THE OFFICIAL. POLICY OR POSITION OF THE
UNITED STATES ATR FORCE, DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE, OR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.
‘able of Contents

tuvoduetion
Seamus Heancy and Michast Longley

Macy O'Malley, Nua Ni Dhonthuall, and Epvan Boland
Fra MGuinness

Bibliogvaphy
Greck Five: Classical Visions of Sex and Violence in Cantemporars rich Literature
by Steven Warren MeCarry
‘Thesis Abstract

‘The erature of the cassia world ave played an important part in the shaping
of nglsh Fiera; the mpat upon Tish eure as bern ness prlouna. Y
temterpnery Trish ony and drum, he dominursrain oa i ni iter ae using,
the classes 2 a lens teu which le view the oppressive and taboo theanes of violence
snd sex in modcen if, The ssl is often a deliberate inversion of gender tole, tho
construction and assertion af penos bing a feminine pine Da ie place in a primary
positon instead of mone iotent masculine stGtudes. ‘These authors pork from with this
binary representation ofa pasarchal onder ta demonstate its ineffectiveness ix bot
domestic and political reams, bu they perfor this criticism throug the modiom of te
isis i order to gain a more objective vantage point. This snot simple nea
‘lasicism, ul ralher eli expo imayinaive pres in mesdern material

‘The authors ineleted inthis study employ the classics tora political and
domestic peace, bt cach in their unique way. Scams Heancy and Michal Longloy
‘explore the feminine poses from within the petieechy. erating some farm of hoe
saint the sarounding violence oftheir aie. Mary O'Malley, Nuata Ni Dhraial,
and Eavan Boland approach the dominant political and domestic sructare from without,
asserting not only feminine peace, but female scxnality and grader roles well, Fr
MoChinness is the most pragrasive nother of the sumvey, werking Feely form bo he
feminine and male perspectives, ye ab) wlhering to an abhmreence of mascaline
arogance. ‘The objective af thee poems and playsis otto held the woed of anc
Greece and Kone 2s shining examples of how a society shonld bo. but to explore
necslral musing on all that is yiseoal and human. Rather han eearing lst in
language segregeled from experience, they use the Greeks and Roraans 28 “symbols
adequate to our predicament.”
Greek Five: Classical Visions of Sex cond Violence in Confempurary Irish Literature
by Steven Warren MeCurty
Thesis Abstract

The literauores ofthe classienl world have played an iraportant part in the shaping
‘oC Tnglish Tteraturs the impact upon Irish eulture has been no tess profound, 1s
‘contemporary Tish poetry and drarua the dominant strain found is that writers arc using
the classics asa fens through which to view the oppressive and taboo thomcs of violence
and scx in modern fife, The 1omlt is offen a deliberate inversion of gender roles, Uke
construction and assertion of peace being » (ernie principle that is placed in a primary
position inslend of mam: vislent masculine alitales. These authors work ftom wichin this
binary representation of a palrarchal arder to demonstrate its ineffectiveness in both
damestio and political terms, but they perform this csitieism through the medium of the
classi in order to gnin a maze objective vantage point, This isnot simple neu
classicisin, but tater a mothod to cxpand imaginstive possibilities in modern material,

‘he authors included in this study cmploy the classes toward pofiiead and
domestie peace, but each in their unique way. Seamus Meaney and Michael Longley
explore the feminine peace from within the patriarchy, excating some form of hope
agsinst the surrounding violence of their wweiely. Mary O'Malley, Nuala Ni Dhomluniall,
and Favan Boland approach the Aoainant political and domeste structure from without,
asserting not only ferinine peace, but female scxuaity and gender roles az well, Frank
Mauinness is the most progressive author of the survey, working frecly from both the
feminine and male perspectives, yet still adhering to an abhorrcace of mascofine
arrogance. ‘The objestive of these poems and plays is not te hold the world of ancient
Grecoc and Rome as shining examples of haw u ciety should he, but to explore
ancestral masing oa all cat is visceral and human, Racher than becoming lost in
Janguage segregated front experience, they usc the Grocks and Romans a3 “symbols
adoquate to our predicament.”
Insraduetion
“Te ieratures othe classical weld have played an importa pt inthe
shaping of English tear: the impact upon Kish eveuve has hen no lest profound
In in hook dela ad the Classical Tadion, W.B. Stanlard documents the foog,
history of Greck and Roman cslvation’s influence upou te Irish, Reccat ties
{such as Elizabeth Cullinglond) have documented more specific employment of
fasseal ees ul images hy modera sh writers, bu fil 1 expen lly hose and
‘vty authors choove to use These specifi wopes. In conempenary ish lice, he

dominunt nirain found is chat writers arc using the ctaics nsw lems Unrough which t0

view with the oppressive and hoe themes viene und sen modem life. The
resi x ofen a deliberate inversion of gender ols, the construction and assertion of
peaceful feminine principle in primary positon instead of wofent mascutine
attitudes, These muons wo rom witha thi binary representation of patriarch
order to demonstrate its meffetivenes in both domestic and political terms, but they
pevform this eriticism dmg the lens ofthe classi in onder to gain a more objective
‘amage gost

‘While his study relies Tngely oma gender-based critical approach its merely

a base from which in expand to further discussions an the subject. Gender roles are

uitinsately pautetas of dominance and submission, independom ofa pecton's actual
sex. Tho implications of this are palpwly cviden! wiltin post-coloniat (and some

‘would argue, colonial Freluud, Much pein bas been given over to representations of
Britnin #s w mole and Ireland as a feminine presence. What has been largely
‘overluvied in tse interennncetedncss of politcal and gender conflict in comtemporary

Ireland, For example, Cullingford ideals the political

ications of Seamus
Heeaey’s The Caveat Troy. but ignores the gonderwapets, hen in fac they are
inextiably linked, Erin my have is several female stanifesatons, bt sh society
a a whole is prserchal and Remon Catolc (as if one could survive without the

clhes). Ramin Catholicism’s presence is just as reliant on a patrivrchal ordee and

gender dichotomy 25 Britain and Ulster, This curent that suns tr even today,
‘with che Vatican releasing an anachronsic dire agains! feminism and the cqusity
of the sexes, Protesints in Northen Ieland sufer equally fom the patriarchal
soxdety, becouse inionsts ad Nationalists insist on mascuTine, und often seis, codes
of contuct to ansntsin pole! sus, nd feminine empathy and peace i cane ia
the ecsstiee. Violeuce ist ismiment with which to msintin the status quo of
powsr, both politely and domestically.

This volewoe tas been pervasive in rsh discourse since the mast rocnt
cowbreak ofthe “Tres” ithe late (9605; che atempt co discover methods of
cenfromtng hat violence antisticlly solder than the Republic of elon iself; The
Lanages of car bombs ad heaped hades on he evening news conftonted che pt,
playight, and revels. wih a very peculiar proler: hot docs ons dal wi
violence in Titraure without becoming exsnared i the moras of eomimporary
polities Ane hove dacs cme eros the nue of yee oles Cough artiste
representa without appearug anita feminist? An answer wa provided y

‘Yeuls fifty years eatlcr, thatthe goal should be to find “befiting emblems of
adversity.”" ‘fhe difficuty isin Finding emblems that are neutral (so as not to convey
a political fitton} yet cnturhingly powerful

‘what des ths have todo wit the classes? Earlier anifestaons of
Hellenism and nco-classcisin in Entish iterator have often eniplaed the Grecks
and Romans asa weil for poles orto eat a bond beeen the world oF he niet
-Mediteranean andthe writers own aesthetic gous, both wih an abscatious noi
the Cesc ition os an ideal socety tht shouldbe canted by a eomupe
contempernty solely. fa the opening dovades of he twentieth ceoury there was &
slow but svete shi away from the muguestioningadiaton of the Grocks and
‘Romans. Tn ers of sexual apptications the clvate have veruinly heen called upon

vefore, but with the purpose of rcfuting weanl moves. Oscar Wilde and the Uranians

‘employed the classics ta explore homosexuality ina “safe space,” but (heir advocacy
‘of The Romans and Greeks had negative consequences fr the classics. In the dock:
speech at his infancus indecency ful, Wilde appealed tothe classics asa justification
for homosenunt Kave? The upshor ofthis was a viow thet school children could be
‘conrupted by classical influenves. This effect was so enduring that Stanford even
_makes an apology for the virtue of the classics in his (somewhat smachramistic) 1976
sludy, even offering an example of x Hellenist of the period hun Sullivan, although
educated at rinty intend of Oxford) becoming a priest.

‘Williams Butler Yeats also tumed to the Grecks amd Rorauns alter early
experiments with ish mythology. He iypically used then» tn support is potsonl
idea of history and acetheties us propounded in A Vision. For example, he uses the

myth of Tela aul Zeus in represent the bepiutg of a historical cycle Unat would end
‘with another god-human offspring, ae he cites Oedipns asthe “central igute of
Geet mythology.* He sho used the classiest confront contemporary sexual mares,
<r more apecicalty, to confront the conservative goverment at devetoped in the
esl yeats ofthe Irish Republic, Earlce in bis caroer. Yeats Gampaiged exiensvely
for an iWish production of Gedipws Re but the Lord Chambhedain censored the flay
for its ineeslwous content, Te Jascinterest aftr the ban was ited, but the effort was
revive frac initial staging in. 1825. probably mare for ang Kinling in He

discussion

enscusbip laws in the new republic fhan uny uristic endeavoe.*

Joyee was aenbivulent at best iowaeds Hellenism, making the most prominea.
sepresantative of Grock thought and concepls the usurper Buek Mulligan: be
considered Hellenism a “European appencitis."* The hasis fr cis strain (stain?) of
‘Eee in Treluré can he found in the works of Goorgs Maore (with more
reverence) md Buck's real-life protstype, Oliver St John Gogany. However, oye
also hn positive leanings towards the Grocks (othsr than using the Odsasey us a

‘framework for his maganm opus}. It was x popilar assertion af the eonly twentieth

‘century that Irclond wus founded by Phoenicians: even Tames Joyce gave credence

Gometimes wnguein-cheek. sometimes seriously) to this dhcory and had his own
evidence that Gaclie was a derivative of Semitic languages outside of the Indo
European pule? The evidence of this weary has not been definitive, bt the scientific
(act ia nots important as the power of image in popular extuune

Joyce particulrly ubboreed the wialenoe of Odysseus, and considered bis

lwoghter of the suitors as an act that was particularly “unUlysscan.°* Although the

_yemts of Ulysses* composition were more vichent (Worl War than any tine during