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Most of our emotions are predictable reactions to external actions or events. Fortunately, modern literature hasn't completely forgotten this. The article is n

Most of our emotions are predictable reactions to external actions or events. Fortunately, modern literature hasn't completely forgotten this. The article is not very consistent, because it also states that «in medieval or classical texts, “people are constantly planning, remembering, loving, fearing, but they somehow manage to do this without the author drawing attention to these mental states.” This changed dramatically between 1500 and 1700». The classical Greek tragedies certainly did draw attention to the mental state of their characters. I remember a long monologue of Euripides' Andromache that I would sum up as "This life is too hard. Why did I have a son? I shouldn't have, as my care for him doubles my suffering. But I should not lament, I should act and die for my son."

drb91 8y ago
While the Euripides is an excellent counterpoint, you’re not acknowledging the clear rhetorical turn that started with the western novel (or shakespeare, I guess).
- coldtea 8y ago
  That's the thing. While we don't deny the "clear rhetorical turn that started with the western novel (or shakespeare)", I (and I think the parent) believe that this turn was in fact a return (to what e.g. ancient Greek, Chinese, etc literature did: talk about feelings) and not some wholly new direction.
  - drb91 8y ago
    Greek literature doesn’t have THAT much feelings. There’s nothing remotely in the realm of Hamlet in all of ancient greek lit to my knowledge. Calling it a return is a massive stretch of the Euripides example—I always viewed his works more like sitcoms than having any realistic human characters.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
    - chongli 8y ago
      Try Cassandra from the tragedy Agamemnon by Aeschylus. Her psychological torment from having her true predictions go unheeded is every bit as relatable as Hamlet's suffering for very similar reasons. She is an incredibly sympathetic person, not at all a sitcom character.
      - drb91 8y ago
        I’ll have to check it out! There’s also Sappho, although I’m much less surprised poetry is personal.

drb91 8y ago

While the Euripides is an excellent counterpoint, you’re not acknowledging the clear rhetorical turn that started with the western novel (or shakespeare, I guess).

coldtea 8y ago
That's the thing. While we don't deny the "clear rhetorical turn that started with the western novel (or shakespeare)", I (and I think the parent) believe that this turn was in fact a return (to what e.g. ancient Greek, Chinese, etc literature did: talk about feelings) and not some wholly new direction.
- drb91 8y ago
  Greek literature doesn’t have THAT much feelings. There’s nothing remotely in the realm of Hamlet in all of ancient greek lit to my knowledge. Calling it a return is a massive stretch of the Euripides example—I always viewed his works more like sitcoms than having any realistic human characters.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - chongli 8y ago
    Try Cassandra from the tragedy Agamemnon by Aeschylus. Her psychological torment from having her true predictions go unheeded is every bit as relatable as Hamlet's suffering for very similar reasons. She is an incredibly sympathetic person, not at all a sitcom character.
    - drb91 8y ago
      I’ll have to check it out! There’s also Sappho, although I’m much less surprised poetry is personal.