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The Greek tragedies of Classical Athens frequently portray mothers in central roles, but despite this significance, the relationship between mother and child has long been overshadowed in secondary scholarship by the relationship between husband and wife. This study demonstrates the direct relationship between a female character's active possession of her children and her autonomy, or her ability to act in her own interests, in three plays of Euripides: Electra, Medea, and Ion. In general, women who internalize their ownership of their children, expressed on stage both in word and action, have greater influence over the men around them and the power to enact the revenge they desire. Once their ends have been achieved, however, these tragic mothers often devalue their relationship with their children, leading to a decrease in power that restores the supremacy of the patriarchal order. Within this broad framework, Euripides achieves different results by adjusting aspects of this cycle of maternal empowerment. The Electra follows this outline just as its predecessor the Oresteia does; however, Euripides invents a fictional child for Electra, extending the concept of maternal empowerment to Electra and defining Clytemnestra as both mother and grandmother. In Medea, Euripides demonstrates the significance of Medea's children to her power, and Medea does devalue her children enough to destroy them, the source of her influence, but she is not punished and cannot be reabsorbed into the patriarchal structure, which leaves an audience with a heightened sense of anxiety at the threat of maternal empowerment. Finally, the Ion initially demonstrates a cycle similar to Medea: empowered by her ownership of the child she believes she has lost, Creusa attempts revenge against the young man who threatens her but is in fact her lost son. In the end, however, Creusa uses her empowerment to achieve recognition between mother and son and voluntarily relinquishes her ownership, resulting in a peaceful reabsorption into patriarchal society and a happy ending. Despite the variations on this cycle presented by Euripides, one theme persists: motherhood was both empowering and threatening, and it required strict male control to avoid tragic results. Thus as scholars of tragedy, we cannot ignore the mother-child relationship, not only for its power to illuminate the feminine, but also for its capacity to reveal the vulnerabilities of the masculine.

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Euripides’ Phoenissae is a challenging work that is often overlooked by scholars of Greek drama. This study analyzes how the concept of autochthony occupies a central thematic concern of the play. On the one hand, autochthony unites humans to soil, political claims to myths, and present to past. On the other hand, autochthony was often invoked to exclude foreigners, women and exiles from political life at Athens. We observe a similar dichotomy in the Phoenissae. Autochthony unites the episode action–the story of the fraternal conflict—with the very different subject matter of the choral odes, which treat the founding myths of Thebes. By focalizing the lyric material through the perspective of marginalized female voices (Antigone and the chorus), Euripides is able to problematize the myths and rhetoric associated with autochthony. At the same time, Antigone’s departure with her father at the play’s close offers a transformation of autochthonous power into a positive religious entity. I suggest that a careful examination of the many facets of autochthony can inform our understanding of the Phoenissae with respect to dramatic structure, apparent Euripidean innovations, character motivation, stage direction and audience reception. / text

La thèse étudie le Vocabulaire psychologique dans les drames conservés d’Euripide. Par le terme « psychologique » est entendu tout ce qui se rapporte à la psychè, la conception antique de l’âme, et aide à la décrire. La thèse comporte trois grandes parties : 1. Le vocabulaire de l’âme, 2. L’intelligence, 3. Les émotions. Dans un premier temps, sont répertoriés et classés les sens principaux des termes psychologiques, leurs nuances ainsi que leur emplois métaphoriques, et cela en fonction du contexte dans lequel ces termes apparaissaient. Dans un deuxième temps, à partir de cette première analyse, nous avons tenté de tirer quelques conclusions plus générales sur le sens et l’importance accordés par le poète à chaque notion. D’après cette analyse, il ressort que le souci d’Euripide est de décrire la richesse de l’humain sans le réduire à des catégories et à des oppositions rigoureuses et, du coup, nécessairement réductrices. L’élément le plus accentué de son œuvre est sans doute l’ambiguïté qui traduit dans ses tragédies la complexité humaine. / Our Doctoral Dissertation proposes an analysis of the Euripides’ psychological terms. By “psychological” we mean everything that has to do with the psyche, the Greek concept of the soul, and helps us describe it. We have divided our work in three parts: 1. The vocabulary of the soul, 2. The intellect, 3. The emotions. Firstly, we have identified and classified the main meanings of the psychological terms, their nuances as well as their metaphorical use, and this in reference to the context in which they are used. Secondly, based on the results of our first examination, we have tried to induce some more general conclusions about the sense and the significance accorded to each notion by the tragic poet. According to our analysis, it appears that Euripides’ ultimate goal was above all to describe the richness of the human soul without reducing it into strict categories or oppositions, and thus, inevitably reductive. The most salient element of his work is probably the ambiguity that translates in his tragedies the human complexity.

The study of old age in the humanities has developed significantly in the last few decades, but there is still much scope for progress. This thesis, therefore, seeks to contribute to the growing academic discourse in this area by considering ageing as it is represented in ancient Greek theatre. At the same time, it seeks to take its place within Classical Studies by developing new readings of the plays. To develop a context for its analysis, this study begins with consideration of the contemporary demographics, social position, and stage portrayal of old age, and following this dedicates a chapter to each of the four surviving fifth century dramatists. In Aiskhylos’ Agamemnon, old age emerges as a crucial element in choral self-identity, and an important component of the authority that they display. Following this, the thesis considers the chorus of Euripides’ Herakles, in particular its use of metadramatic language, and the impact this has on plot-development and the representation of their age. The next chapter, on Oidipous Koloneus, shifts to consideration of the protagonist. The old age of Oidipous emerges as a powerful driver of his mental and spiritual power, and forms a striking background to the exploration of his character. The final chapter of the thesis examines how mechanisms of renewal that old men undergo in Aristophanes’ comedies (Knights, Akharnians, Peace, Wasps, Birds) differ across the dramas, and the impact this difference has on their interpretations. Such reassessments of ancient dramatic texts through the lens of old age can provide significant insight into the complexity of old men’s characterisations and of their involvement in the dramas. At the same time (from a gerontological perspective), this thesis’ analysis contributes to the developing discussion of the history of ageing, and highlights the differences between the ancient and modern worlds in this respect.

Cette étude porte sur les utilisations de l'intertextualité comme procédé dramaturgique dans Hécube et Les Troyennes d'Euripide. Les intertextes considérés sont les épopées homériques et l'Agamemnon d'Eschyle. Après une présentation des problèmes posés par le recours à la notion d' "intertextualité" dans le domaine de la littérature grecque antique, et plus particulièrement du théâtre grec antique, chaque pièce fait l'objet d'une étude approfondie. Les chapitres I à IV portent sur les stasima des deux pièces et posent la question du fonctionnement de l'intertextualité dans la parole lyrique du choeur. Les stasima sont envisagés dans une perspective unificatrice qui vise à mettre en lumière leur rôle de fil directeur dans les deux tragédies. Les chapitres suivants portent sur des passages étendus des deux pièces. L'utilisation de l'intertextualité dans la représentation du sacrifice de Polyxène fait l'objet du chapitre V tandis que le chapitre VI porte sur la double allusion intertextuelle (à l'Odyssée et à l'Agamemnon) mise en place par Euripide pour représenter le vengeance d'Hécube (Hécube). Les chapitres VII et VIII s'intéressent aux Troyennes : d'abord à la scène de Cassandre, comparée à la scène de l'Agamemnon d'Eschyle dont elle constitue une sorte de réécriture ; puis à la scène d'Hélène, où Euripide construit les tensions de son agôn à partir d'un passage précis du chant III de l'Iliade - qu'il rend volontairement encore plus problématique qu'il ne l'est chez Homère à travers les discours de ses deux personnages. La conclusion présente les résultats de cette enquête quant au fonctionnement et quant à diverses fonctions possibles de l'intertextualité dans la tragédie grecque. / This study investigates the question of how intertextuality is used as a dramaturgical device in Euripides' Hecuba and Troades. The intertexts considered here are the Homeric epics and Aeschylus' Agamemnon. After a presentation of the poblems raised by the use of the notion of "intertextuality" in the field of ancient Greek literature, and more specifically Greek theatre, the two dramas are each studied in depth. Chapters I to IV are concerned with the stasima of these plays and raise the question of the specific manner in which intertextuality is inscribed in the lyrical language of the chorus. The stasima are considered from a global perspective in order to highlight their function as a guiding thread running through each drama. The following chapters deal with extended portions of Hecuba and Troades. The use of intertextuality in the representation of the sacrifice of Polyxena is studied in chapter V, whereas chapter VI deals with the double intertextual allusion (both to the Odyssey and to the Agamemnon) engaged in by Euripides in his representation of Hecuba's revenge (in Hecuba). Chapters VII and VIII are about the Troades, focusing firstly on the Cassandra scene, which is compared with the Cassandra scene in Aeschylus' Agamemnon, reworked here by Euripides. Secondly there is the scene involving Helen, where Euripides builds up the tensions of the agôn by basing it on a precise passage of Iliad III - which, in the light of the positions taken by the two characters, he purposely renders even more problematic than it is in Homer. The conclusion presents the results of this inquiry into the functioning and possible purposes of intertextuality in Greek tragedy

Ce travail consiste en une édition commentée des Grenouilles, comédie présentée par Aristophane en 405 avant notre ère, et ayant obtenu une seconde représentation l’année suivante. Aristophane y présente la descente aux Enfers de Dionysos en quête du poète Euripide, et la dispute entre ce dernier et Eschyle pour la suprématie tragique. Notre édition comporte une introduction générale qui resitue les deux représentations dans leur cadre – historique, idéologique et littéraire – et montre comment le contexte immédiat, notamment la représentation des Bacchantes d’Euripide et la mort de celui-ci et de Sophocle, a influencé la structure de la pièce et ses thématiques ; ainsi que la nature et les causes des modifications apportées au texte entre la première et la seconde représentation. Le cœur de l’introduction analyse l’intrigue de la comédie de manière plus ou moins linéaire, montrant comment Aristophane utilise dans la première partie les motifs traditionnels de la catabase et du voyage initiatique, et comment, dans la deuxième partie, il détourne et critique les théories sophistiques du langage pour mettre face à face Euripide et Eschyle et en dégager une réflexion sur la fonction du théâtre dans la cité. Un chapitre est consacré aux hypothèses concernant la mise en scène originelle, et un autre à la transmission du texte depuis l’Antiquité. Le commentaire vers à vers aborde les questions d’établissement du texte, de vocabulaire, de grammaire, de métrique, de mise en scène et d’intertextualité. Le texte est accompagné d’un apparat critique faisant état de quatre manuscrits parmi les plus anciens (ainsi que d’autres de manière ponctuelle), et d’une traduction originale. / This work consists of an edition and commentary of the Frogs of Aristophanes, a comedy performed in 405 BC and a second time the following year. In it, Aristophanes shows the descent to the Underworld of Dionysos as he searches for the poet Euripides, and the latter’s contest with Aeschylus over tragic supremacy.. This edition contains a general introduction replacing both performances of the play in their historical, ideological and literary frame, and showing how immediate context – mainly the performance of Euripides’ Bacchae and his and Sophocles’ death – influenced the play’s structure and themes. It also shows the nature and causes of the revisions that Aristophanes made between the first and the second performance. The central part of the introduction analyses the plot in a mostly linear way, showing how Aristophanes uses the traditional narratives of catabasis and initiatic journey in the first part of the play, and how, in the second part, he appropriates and criticises the sophists’ theories of language in order to oppose Aeschylus and Euripides and consider the role of theatre in the city. One chapter is dedicated to hypotheses concerning the original stage performance, and another to the transmission of the text between Antiquity and modern times. The line-by-line commentary preoccupies itself with matters of textual criticism, vocabulary, grammar, metric, performance and intertextuality. The text is completed by a critical apparatus that reports the readings of four of the oldest mediaeval manuscripts (and some others when the need arises) and an original French translation.