Rush Rehm Book order

The intertwining of weddings and death is a pivotal theme in Greek tragedies, as explored through the experiences of female characters like Kassandra, Antigone, and Helen. These figures engage with wedding and funeral rites in complex ways, leading to a blurring of the lines between the two ceremonies. Rush Rehm examines how this conflation is portrayed in the works of Aeschylus, Sophokles, and Euripides, providing insight into the significance of women's rituals in ancient Athenian society and the dramatic challenges faced by audiences.

Understanding Greek Tragic Theatre is intended for those interested in how Greek tragedy works. Emphasizing the political nature of tragedy as a theatre of, by, and for the polis, Rehm characterizes Athens as a performance culture, one in which the theatre stood alongside other public forums as a place to confront matters of import and moment. In treating the various social, religious and practical aspects of tragic production, he shows how these elements promoted a vision of the theatre as integral to the life of the city - a theatre whose focus was on the audience.

Exploring the intricate relationship between space and Greek tragedy, this work presents a fresh perspective on the open-air theater of Dionysus. The author, a classicist and director, examines how natural and fictional settings interact, proposing an ecological framework that situates fifth-century theatrical space within the broader social, political, and religious contexts of Athens. This analysis highlights the significance of spatial dynamics in shaping the audience's experience and understanding of ancient performances.