في التراجيديا اليونانية القديمة (ανδρεια) مفهوم الرجولة

Abstract

This paper discusses the concept of manhood in Greek tragedy in the fifth century BC. The implications of the term ανδρεια and its correlations are discussed in the context of the Greek texts and their relation to competitive and cooperative values. This is done through an analysis of the male heroes’ characters, their attitudes and behavior during the plays. This paper aims to highlight the concept of real manhood "ευανδρεια" and its impact on the family, society and the state. The concept of manhood will be discussed in a relationship with many topics that reflect the values and principles of real manhood such as piety, honor, sanity, restraint, compassion, nobility. This paper will also discuss the counter term “ανανδρεια”, which, according to the context of texts in the plays, expresses a different concepts such as cowardice, lack of attributes of manhood, nondefense of honor, and non-modesty. It is difficult to have a certain standard of human manhood “ανδρεια” from the traditional aristocratic criteria used by Homer such as origin, wealth and social status. But the tragedy confirms that real men have the ability to manage their homes rightly and to govern their cities fairly. The criterion of the real manhood and is not his power in the battle, but courage of his inner nature and noble spirit . These are the true criteria for the good man and his virtue, regardless of his social status, because the nature of man is the only fixed fact. The study follows analysis of the terms and the expressions that reflect the concept of manhood, to expose the character’s traits and emotions, to find out the dramatic function of manhood as a driving force of events in the play. This research is a source study, as it relies mainly on Greek texts to present the different concepts of manhood terms the Greek plays.