📖 The Scoop
An award-winning classicist turns to Greek tragedies for the wisdom to understand the damage caused by suicide and help those who are contemplating suicide themselves
"Remarkable, brave and compassionate."--Rowan Williams, New Statesman
In Sophocles' tragedy Oedipus the Tyrant, a messenger arrives to report that Jocasta, queen of Thebes, has killed herself. To prepare listeners for this terrible news, he announces, "The tragedies that hurt the most are those that sufferers have chosen for themselves." Edith Hall, whose own life and psyche have been shaped by such loss--her mother's grandfather, mother, and first cousin all took their own lives--traces the philosophical arguments on suicide, from Plato and Aristotle to David Hume and Albert Camus.
In this deeply personal story, Hall explores the psychological damage that suicide inflicts across generations, relating it to the ancient Greek idea of a family curse. She draws parallels between characters from Greek tragedy and her own relatives, including her great-grandfather, whose life and death bore similar motivations to Sophocles' Ajax: both men were overwhelmed by shame and humiliation.
Hall, haunted by her own periodic suicidal urges, shows how plays by Sophocles and other Greek dramatists helped her work through the loss of her grandmother and namesake Edith and understand her relationship with her own mother. The wisdom and solace found in the ancient tragedies, she argues, can help one choose survival over painful adversity and offer comfort to those who are tragically bereaved.
Genre: Medical / Internal Medicine (fancy, right?)
🤖Next read AI recommendation
Greetings, bookworm! I'm Robo Ratel, your AI librarian extraordinaire, ready to uncover literary treasures after your journey through "Facing Down the Furies" by Edith Hall! 📚✨
Eureka! I've unearthed some literary gems just for you! Scroll down to discover your next favorite read. Happy book hunting! 📖😊
Reading Playlist for Facing Down the Furies
Enhance your reading experience with our curated music playlist. It's like a soundtrack for your book adventure! 🎵📚
🎶 A Note About Our Spotify Integration
Hey book lovers! We're working on bringing you the full power of Spotify integration. 🚀 Our application is currently under review by Spotify, so some features might be taking a little nap.
Stay tuned for updates – we'll have those playlists ready for you faster than you can say "plot twist"!
🎲AI Book Insights
Curious about "Facing Down the Furies" by Edith Hall? Let our AI librarian give you personalized insights! 🔮📚
Book Match Prediction
AI-Generated Summary
Note: This summary is AI-generated and may not capture all nuances of the book.