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

The office and Structure of classic Tragedy in Philip Roths Eli the Fanatic When atomic number 53s in painphysical, mental, or emotionalone everlastingly believes it is worse than everyone elses. Yet when an acquaintance bemoans a bad day, one be quiet 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 argon tenderer than the friends current sores. Individuals forget that concern washbowl be shared and anothers intervention can diminish it. This theme has been around for millennia and was concomitantly explored in the works of Greek tragedians. In Eli, the Fanatic Philip Roth employs structural and thematic elements of Greek tragedy to exemplify that human beings can be responsible for each others suffering. One of the essential elements of Greek tragedy, that of the chorus, can be filled in by Ted, Shirley, and even Miriam. They are the residents of Woodenton who call Eli. Traditi onally, the chorus plays an active utilization and can be a sounding and advising board for the protagonist. Ted in particular tries to advise Eli and, like the customary chorus, he represents the masses, the people, in this particular cutting the town of Woodenton. As Ted informs Eli, The Jewish members of the community appointed me, Artie, and Harry to -2 regain what could be preceptore (276). The Greek chorus, in Greek tragedy, represents the masses and frequently serves to counterpoint the protagonist, and Teds near-fanatical grudgeagainst the Yeshiva certainly counterpoints with Elis emergence 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 fortunate in that they taught viewers how to extend their compassion, and Roth duplicates this motive. He suggests that if one is willing to digest the laws of God, then one can also help others. It is an idealistic heart and soul 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 Vintage International, 1959.