Encountering the monstrous masculine: an exploration of monstrous bodies, behaviour and subjectivity in Greek and Roman literature and art

Rae, Heather (2013) Encountering the monstrous masculine: an exploration of monstrous bodies, behaviour and subjectivity in Greek and Roman literature and art. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This study develops the interpretation of hybrid and human-esque male monsters by examining ambiguous presentations of these figures in Greek and Roman literature and art, putting a fresh perspective on the hero/monster encounter and showing that monsters are developed characters rather than simple heroic attributes, as they are frequently interpreted in modern scholarship. Additional strands running through the thesis are consideration of the hero’s ambiguity through visual similarity to monsters and through shared characteristics; the relationship between monstrous body and monstrous behaviour; the subjectivity of monsters; how masculinity relates to monstrosity; and how monsters operate within the Other/self discourse as ways of exploring human behaviour and relationships in the two monster tale types of heroic encounter and love story. As well as looking at how media and genre affect characterisation, where relevant, the political and social contexts of Greece and Rome will form a background to considering how monsters are presented. This thesis explores the full range of the male monster’s ambiguity (humanised through gestures, clothing, or body; placed into a social context by humanising, or by relationships with humans; given subjectivity) and monstrosity (they explore excessive human behaviour and masculinity), and how the monster is a character in its own right.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Due to copyright restrictions the full text of this thesis cannot be made available online. Access to the printed version is available. Published article 'The Politics of Monstrosity: Giant Bodies and Behaviour in Classical and Renaissance Literature and Art' esharp 2010 http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/esharp/issues/16winter2010-politicsaesthetics/ contains some material (now greatly revised) from Chapters Three and Five. Copyright is held by author.
• Keywords: Monsters, mythology, ambiguity, subjectivity, Greek literature, Greek art, Roman literature, Roman art, Minotaur, Cyclops, centaurs, giants, hybrids, heroes, monstrosity, monstrous body, monstrous behaviour
• Subjects: D History General and Old World > DE The Mediterranean Region. The Greco-Roman World; N Fine Arts > NX Arts in general; P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General)
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Classics
• Supervisor's Name: Ruffell, Dr. Ian
• Date of Award: 2013
• Depositing User: Heather Rae
• Unique ID: glathesis:2013-4222
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 May 2013 10:49
• Last Modified: 14 May 2013 11:03
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/4222