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A review by lucysiri
Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths by Helen Morales
5.0
a late review but a review nonetheless in the name of my new endeavour to Remember What I Read.
i love history, mythology and gender study and so basically this book was perfect for me.
when i hear “essay collection” i get scared, but it’s clear morales carefully picked exactly what plays and myths she wanted to touch on, and each chapter was absolutely outstanding and equally insightful.
the writing is funny at times, as well as touching and inspiring.
morales links modern phenomena to antiquity in a way that empowers us to make change. it was both fascinating and appalling to see how the structures that undermine my freedom and control me are underpinned by ancient cultural perspectives. but she doesn’t just go, “look! it’s always been this way.” she speaks of the roman goddess diana who punishes men in mythology, and of the female revenge taken in the bacchae - a play that warns against men trying to control women.
despite being a highly qualified academic in her field, morales isn’t stiffy or defensive about how we should read mythology. she doesn’t shy away from queer, feminist, or optimistic readings. she mentions artsits like beyoncé’s reimaginings of greek myth and of how activists like diana the killer of bus drivers have used mythology to subvert modern brutality - both sections that I found very insightful.
i would have liked this book to be a lot over, but i’m already excited to get my hands on some greek plays and mythology this year.
“Will you join me in taking up the body?”
- Sophocles, Antigone
when i hear “essay collection” i get scared, but it’s clear morales carefully picked exactly what plays and myths she wanted to touch on, and each chapter was absolutely outstanding and equally insightful.
the writing is funny at times, as well as touching and inspiring.
morales links modern phenomena to antiquity in a way that empowers us to make change. it was both fascinating and appalling to see how the structures that undermine my freedom and control me are underpinned by ancient cultural perspectives. but she doesn’t just go, “look! it’s always been this way.” she speaks of the roman goddess diana who punishes men in mythology, and of the female revenge taken in the bacchae - a play that warns against men trying to control women.
despite being a highly qualified academic in her field, morales isn’t stiffy or defensive about how we should read mythology. she doesn’t shy away from queer, feminist, or optimistic readings. she mentions artsits like beyoncé’s reimaginings of greek myth and of how activists like diana the killer of bus drivers have used mythology to subvert modern brutality - both sections that I found very insightful.
i would have liked this book to be a lot over, but i’m already excited to get my hands on some greek plays and mythology this year.
“Will you join me in taking up the body?”
- Sophocles, Antigone