Lucan’s Roman apocalypse. A trauma theory reading of Lucan’s Pharsalia

McGlinchey, Harlan John (2025) Lucan’s Roman apocalypse. A trauma theory reading of Lucan’s Pharsalia. MRes thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis seeks to conduct a trauma theory informed reading of Lucan’s Pharsalia as a possible expression of individual trauma as well as a presentation of collective Roman trauma. The reading viewsLucan’s work through the lens of the sublime and specifically the
relationship between trauma and the sublime. It examines the apocalyptic nature of traumatic experience via the portrayal of apocalyptic upheaval during the civil war fought between the epic’s principal characters, Pompey and Caesar. The ways in which sublime trauma is depicted materially in relation to the body makes up the second major examination of the thesis. In studying Lucan’s use of the body - individual bodies, state bodies, and the body of Lucan’s text itself, the impact of trauma is measured.

• Item Type: Thesis (MRes)
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Subjects: P Language and Literature > PA Classical philology; P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN0080 Criticism
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Classics
• Supervisor's Name: Hau, Dr. Lisa Irene
• Date of Award: 2025
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2025-85304
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Aug 2025 14:59
• Last Modified: 14 Aug 2025 15:02
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.85304
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/85304