Ithaka is a 1996 play by the German writer Botho Strauß. It has the subtitle Schauspiel nach den Heimkehr-Gesängen der Odyssee, meaning "play after the homecoming songs from the Odyssey". It tells the story of how Odysseus, the Greek hero from the Trojan War, returns after 20 years to his court in Ithaca, where he massacres the suitors of his wife Penelope to recreate order.
Several critics, including Wolfgang Höbel of Der Spiegel and Rolf Michaelis of Die Zeit, speculated whether the play was related to a passage from Strauß' heavily debated essay "Anschwellender Bocksgesang", about how "blood sacrifice" is the means by which a nation imposes its moral laws, and whether the play thereby has an anti-democratic message.[2][3] Roland Koberg of the Berliner Zeitung was skeptical of such an interpretation and wrote that the play easily can be interpreted as a "peace text", as the gods who incite the violence are condemned for it.[4] Höbel, who reviewed the Munich performance, criticized Dorn's portrayal of the suitors in punk rock style, as it did not make them appear as serious threats to "manners, law and state", and made it incomprehensible "why Odysseus specifically has to pierce their chests, instead of simply pulling their ears".[2] Koberg reviewed the Berlin performance, and wrote that Langhoff's version was "somewhat wiser", with the suitors portrayed as a "stylized counter-chorus".[4]
^ abHöbel, Wolfgang (1996-07-22). "Ende einer Dienstfahrt". Der Spiegel (in German). Retrieved 2017-01-09. Sitte, Gesetz und Staat"; "Warum Odysseus gerade denen die Brust durchbohren muß, statt ihnen einfach die Ohren langzuziehen
^Michaelis, Rolf (1996-07-26). "Uraufführung von Botho Strauss' 'Ithaka'". Die Zeit (in German). Retrieved 2017-01-09.
^ abKoberg, Roland (1997-04-07). "Alt, neu, groß: "Ithaka" von Botho Strauß am Deutschen Theater: Abwägung von Grausamkeit". Berliner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2017-01-09. etwas klüger"; "stilisierten Gegen-Chor
ithaka, play, ithaka, 1996, play, german, writer, botho, strauß, subtitle, schauspiel, nach, heimkehr, gesängen, odyssee, meaning, play, after, homecoming, songs, from, odyssey, tells, story, odysseus, greek, hero, from, trojan, returns, after, years, court, i. Ithaka is a 1996 play by the German writer Botho Strauss It has the subtitle Schauspiel nach den Heimkehr Gesangen der Odyssee meaning play after the homecoming songs from the Odyssey It tells the story of how Odysseus the Greek hero from the Trojan War returns after 20 years to his court in Ithaca where he massacres the suitors of his wife Penelope to recreate order IthakaThe slaughter of the suitors on a Campanian red figure bell krater ca 330 BCWritten byBotho StraussDate premiered17 July 1996 1996 07 17 Place premieredMunich Kammerspiele MunichOriginal languageGerman Contents 1 Production history 2 Reception 3 References 4 External linksProduction history editThe play premiered on 17 July 1996 at the Munich Kammerspiele directed by Dieter Dorn 1 It was produced for the Deutsches Theater in Berlin by Thomas Langhoff the following year Reception editSeveral critics including Wolfgang Hobel of Der Spiegel and Rolf Michaelis of Die Zeit speculated whether the play was related to a passage from Strauss heavily debated essay Anschwellender Bocksgesang about how blood sacrifice is the means by which a nation imposes its moral laws and whether the play thereby has an anti democratic message 2 3 Roland Koberg of the Berliner Zeitung was skeptical of such an interpretation and wrote that the play easily can be interpreted as a peace text as the gods who incite the violence are condemned for it 4 Hobel who reviewed the Munich performance criticized Dorn s portrayal of the suitors in punk rock style as it did not make them appear as serious threats to manners law and state and made it incomprehensible why Odysseus specifically has to pierce their chests instead of simply pulling their ears 2 Koberg reviewed the Berlin performance and wrote that Langhoff s version was somewhat wiser with the suitors portrayed as a stylized counter chorus 4 References edit Strauss Botho Ithaka Wissen de Retrieved 2017 01 09 a b Hobel Wolfgang 1996 07 22 Ende einer Dienstfahrt Der Spiegel in German Retrieved 2017 01 09 Sitte Gesetz und Staat Warum Odysseus gerade denen die Brust durchbohren muss statt ihnen einfach die Ohren langzuziehen Michaelis Rolf 1996 07 26 Urauffuhrung von Botho Strauss Ithaka Die Zeit in German Retrieved 2017 01 09 a b Koberg Roland 1997 04 07 Alt neu gross Ithaka von Botho Strauss am Deutschen Theater Abwagung von Grausamkeit Berliner Zeitung in German Retrieved 2017 01 09 etwas kluger stilisierten Gegen ChorExternal links editPresentation at Rowohlt Verlag in German Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ithaka play amp oldid 1146802575, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
