Euripides

Some scholars say that Euripides was born on this day in 480 BC.  I have always loved Euripides’ work, preferring him over Aeschylus and even the great Sophocles.  There is so much psychological power and insight in his later work, especially Βάκχαι--a terrible story of religious belief that has been perverted, shifting from love into vengeance.  Pentheus is not only destroyed, but also disgraced and dishonored by Dionysus, reminding one of Sue at the end of Thomas Hardy’s Jude the Obscure, who believes she can only appease God’s anger by degrading and defiling herself.  Hardy’s cynicism and utilitarianism prevented him from seeing the deeper social and psychological issues raised by Sue’s tragedy, but in Euripides’ work there is both tragedy and deep insight.  There are actually few modern writers who have been able to match Euripides’ ability to explore in a meaningful way the sliding of religious experience into madness: Dostoyevsky and Graham Greene are two that I can think of--both men of deep and authentic (although extremely idiosyncratic) faith.  Actually, one can find this theme in Flannery O’Connor’s work as well, especially in the disturbing Wise Blood.
     Well, I have traveled a long way in a very short time from dear Euripides!  So, to get back to the birthday boy, I think of him and honor his work today, whether it is his actual birthday or not, and am grateful for his insights on the nature of humility, suffering, religion, and tragedy.

Στους καλούς υπάρχει κάθε είδος σοφίας.  (In every good there exists wisdom.)
                                                                        --Euripides