INCESTO E GUERRA NELLE PHOENISSAE DI SENECA

Abstract

Seneca’s Phoenissae focuses on analysis of the family members’ reactions to guilt. This study aims to demonstrate that the investigation about the lexical choices to designate the crime allows a deeper understanding of character’s attitude. In particular, the selection of the nouns reflects Oedipus’s profound struggle with the crime of incest, as he is aware that it has inevitably tainted his sons. Jocasta, by contrast, seems to argue that the war – rather than incest – is the threat to her family.