Abstract
“How does the entrance of a character on the tragic stage affect their visibility and presence? “This question is at the heart of Juliane Vogel’s latest book, Making an Entrance: Appearing on the Stage from Racine to Nietzsche (2022), which analyzes the precarious act of stepping forward and, at the same time, develops a new theory of dramatic form. Taking Vogel’s approach as a starting point, this essay examines the specific mode of entering the stage in Sophocles’s nostos play Philoctetes. It argues that plot-based interpretation is insufficient to account for the structure of the play and the specific type of entrance that Philoctetes embodies. This kind of entrance differs strongly from the so-called ruler’s entrance, which prominently exhibits a vertical posture. In Philoctetes, by contrast, as in the Woman of Trachis, the horizontal axis is dominant. In both plays, relinquishing the vertical axis entails shifting the focus from war and military heroism to victims, who were either killed on the battlefield or, as Philoctetes, abandoned on a deserted island.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callSimilar Papers
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
