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The consequences of female hospitality: a study of women hosts in 5th century Greek Tragedy
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867614025692479488 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Fernandez, Kayla |
| author2 | Westwood, Ursala |
| author_browse | Fernandez, Kayla Westwood, Ursala |
| author_facet | Westwood, Ursala Fernandez, Kayla |
| author_sort | Fernandez, Kayla |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134617 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:45:28.762Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134617 The consequences of female hospitality: a study of women hosts in 5th century Greek Tragedy Fernandez, Kayla Westwood, Ursala Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies. Women in literature Greek drama (Tragedy) -- History and criticism Hospitality in literature Women -- Greece -- History Mythology, Greek, in literature Social role in literature UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Fernandez, K. 2025. The Consequences of Female Hospitality: A Study of Women Hosts in 5th century Greek Tragedy. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/b9838f61-e614-406d-9172-11ce59a1f91f ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Hospitality in ancient Greek literature is shaped by canonical texts such as the Odyssey, which can be reinforced by modern theory to deepen our understanding of ancient cultural dynamics. Within established conventions, the androcentric nature of hospitality is foregrounded, making the presence of female hosts in classical tragedy particularly compelling. Their influence on guests introduces a complexity to their characterization within the broader ritual of hospitality. A key gap emerges in scholarship in the study of feminine manifestations of hospitality, beginning with Homer’s depiction of ideal hostesses such as Arete, contrasted with problematic figures like Circe. Homer offers prescriptive models of ideal and unideal hospitality, and from these portrayals, a pattern emerges that informs accepted convention. The central distinction between Arete and Circe lies in the presence of a male counterpart: Arete hosts alongside her husband, while Circe hosts independently. This suggests a foundational ideal – that for a woman to host appropriately, she must do so in the presence of her husband/a man. This thesis explores whether such a pattern persists in later literary depictions of female hosts. Through comparative analysis of the Odyssey and 5th century Greek tragedy, I examine how tragic hostesses conform to or diverge from Homeric models. Key concepts used to categorize women as ideal or unideal hosts include Host Talking Time, the border, and their relational dynamics with guests. Hamington’s theory of feminist hospitality (2010) informs the development of a distinctly feminine expression of hospitality, which in tragic literature often intersects with violence. Aeschylus’ Clytemnestra anchors this trajectory, presenting an overt display of violent inhospitality that finds nuanced echoes in later playwrights. Sophocles’ Deianeira inadvertently kills her husband upon the arrival of her guest, Iole. Euripides’ Elektra murders her mother-guest, Clytemnestra. Euripides’ Creusa attempts to murder her guest-son, Ion. These examples suggest a recurring pattern: when a woman hosts, violence often ensues. This thesis draws on these findings to offer a new lens through which to view marginalized bodies in Greek literature. Written by men, for male audiences, these texts reflect perceptions of women’s capabilities, justifications, and suffering – as seen in Deianeira’s trauma, Creusa’s grief, and Elektra’s restlessness. These characters are complex and warrant a nuanced appreciation of their roles within the framework of hospitality. By interrogating their portrayals, this study contributes to broader conversations about gender, agency, and the literary construction of feminine power in classical antiquity. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar nie. Masters 2025-12-18T13:46:07Z 2025-12-18T13:46:07Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134617 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 110 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Women in literature Greek drama (Tragedy) -- History and criticism Hospitality in literature Women -- Greece -- History Mythology, Greek, in literature Social role in literature UCTD Fernandez, Kayla The consequences of female hospitality: a study of women hosts in 5th century Greek Tragedy |
| title | The consequences of female hospitality: a study of women hosts in 5th century Greek Tragedy |
| title_full | The consequences of female hospitality: a study of women hosts in 5th century Greek Tragedy |
| title_fullStr | The consequences of female hospitality: a study of women hosts in 5th century Greek Tragedy |
| title_full_unstemmed | The consequences of female hospitality: a study of women hosts in 5th century Greek Tragedy |
| title_short | The consequences of female hospitality: a study of women hosts in 5th century Greek Tragedy |
| title_sort | consequences of female hospitality a study of women hosts in 5th century greek tragedy |
| topic | Women in literature Greek drama (Tragedy) -- History and criticism Hospitality in literature Women -- Greece -- History Mythology, Greek, in literature Social role in literature UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134617 |
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