Versions of Heroism in Modern American Drama

Versions of Heroism in Modern American Drama

Author: Julie Adam

Publisher: Springer

ISBN: 9781349213634

Category: Literary Criticism

Page: 178

View: 897

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Taking as its starting-point the 'death of tragedy' debate, and focusing on the supposed disappearance from the stage of the individual tragic hero, the book views selected plays and writings on the theatre by Miller, Williams, Maxwell Anderson and O'Neill as exemplifying four versions of heroism: idealism, martyrdom, self-reflection and survival. Julie Adam shows that these diverse playwrights share a desire to redefine tragic heroism in individualistic liberal terms.