Tragic Male Suicide in Fifth-century Athens

Abstract

The cultural ascendency of Athens during the fifth century BC involved the production of works of tragedy. Among the purposes of tragedies was the moral education of Athenian society. The democratic organization of Athens meant that the polis was predicated upon the political and social contributions of adult, citizen men. Given these features, it is all the more striking that male suicide, so apparently destructive of these goods, is mainly depicted positively throughout Attic tragedy. The presence of these moments in the tragedies suggests that the Athenians intended to model positive meaning through these representations. The aim of this study is to show how the framing of male suicide in tragedy mimicked Athenian ideals of civic duty and civic pride that were the products of an increasing cultural hegemony during the Peloponnesian War. The findings of this thesis will demonstrate that the Athenians engaged with the issues of government, self-sacrifice, and social contribution through the performances of male suicide at the City Dionysia.