The Role and Structure of Greek Tragedy in Philip Roth’s Eli the Fanati

The Role and Structure of Hellenic Tragedy in Philip Roths Eli the Fanatic When champions in nuisancephysical, mental, or madone always believes it is worsened than everyone elses. Yet when an acquaintance bemoans a great(p) day, one still manages to wave it off it could not be worse than ones own pain. Even if it is a past pain and there ar only scars, those scars are tenderer than the friends stream sores. Individuals forget that anguish can be shared and anothers intervention can diminish it. This theme has been around for millennia and was particularly explored in the works of Greek tragedians. In Eli, the Fanatic Philip Roth employs structural and thematic elements of Greek tragedy to illustrate that human beings can be responsible for apiece others suffering. One of the essential elements of Greek tragedy, that of the emit, can be filled in by Ted, Shirley, and even Miriam. They are the residents of Woodenton who call Eli. Traditionally, the chorus pl ays an active role and can be a sounding and advising get on for the protagonist. Ted in particular tries to advise Eli and, like the customary chorus, he represents the masses, the people, in this particular case the town of Woodenton. As Ted informs Eli, The Jewish members of the community found me, Artie, and Harry to -2see what could be done (276). The Greek chorus, in Greek tragedy, represents the masses and often manages to counterpoint the protagonist, and Teds near-fanatical grudgeagainst the Yeshiva for certain counterpoints with Elis growing benevolence toward them. In Roths context, the residents of Woodenton, the Chorus, also serve as acounterpoint to Elis guilt. Eli becomes concerned over the Greenies happiness a... ...s Eli who, as he awakens to the laws of Gods, also becomes aware that just as there are laws beyond those he preaches, there is pain beyond his own. Greek tragedies were successful in that they taught viewers how to extend their compassion, a nd Roth duplicates this motive. He suggests that if one is willing to accept the laws of God, then one can also armed service others. It is an idealistic message perhaps, but when one is suffering, one wants to believe that others are concerned, even if they dont physically share the pain. -7Works CitedMcDonald, Marianne. Seamus Heaneys Cure at Troy Politics and Poetry. Classics Ireland. 1996. University College Dublin. 13 Feb. 2006. ssics/classicsinfo/96/McDonald96.html Roth, Philip. Goodbye, Columbus. NY time of origin International, 1959.