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The Reverse of Vahlen

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

Extract

Until 1923 most critics were content to interpret as ‘a reversal o fortune’. Then, in ‘The Reverse of Aristotle’ (C.R. 1923, pp. 98–104), Mr. F. L. Lucas argued persuasively for Vahlen's interpretation of the term as ‘a reversa of intention’, ‘any event where the agent's intention is over-ruled to produce an effect the exact opposite of his intention’. The result has been wide acceptanct for Vahlen's theory. This may be a case of truth prevailing after two thousanc years of error, but it looks to me more like an instance of quid facundia posset I suggest that we simple-minded Ajaxes have fallen victims to the wit of Odysseus.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1959

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References

page 207 note 1 And in Tragedy, London, 1927 (revised and enlarged 1957).

page 207 note 2 Atkins, , Literary Criticism in Antiquity (Cambridge, 1934), i. 91Google Scholar; House, , Aristotle's Poetics, pp. 96, 99Google Scholar; Wimsatt, and Brooks, , Literary Criticism (New York, 1957), p. 44.Google Scholar

page 208 note 1 As Bywater apparently was, Festschrift Theodor Gomperz (1902), p. 170.Google Scholar

page 208 note 2 Rostagni translates , ‘con l'apparenza di recar gioia’, Aristotele Poetica (Turin, 1945), p. 61Google Scholar.

page 208 note 3 Cf. (1452a4), a passage which may indeed be referred to () in Aristotle's definition of w., cf. Glanville, , C.Q., 1947, pp. 7378Google Scholar, and Rostagni, , op. cit., p. 60Google Scholar. Potts, (Aristotle on the Art of Fiction (Cambridge, 1953), p. 31Google Scholar) translates the first example: ‘Thus in the Oedipus the arrival of the messenger, which was expected to cheer Oedipus up by re leasing him from his fear. …’ There is no reason why the expectation referred to should not include that of the audience, the majority of whom did not know even the ‘well-known’ stories in advance (1451b25–26).

page 208 note 4 Op. cit., p. 81

page 209 note 1 Rostagni equates op. cit., p. 59.

page 210 note 1 Fyfe, Hamilton (Aristotle's Art of Poetry (Oxford, 1940), p. 51Google Scholar) says that the reference is ‘certainly not’ to the Gudeman, P.V. (AristoteUs Poetik (Berlin, 1934), p. 318Google Scholar) says that it is; Rostagni (op. cit., p. 107) leaves the matter open, but reads for the fourth type.

page 210 note 2 Quoted approvingly by Lucas, , C.R., 1923, P. 99.Google Scholar

page 211 note 1 Aristotle could, if he wished, have cited from the O.T. a ‘reversal of intention’ of a major character, Iocasta (707–847). This passage is ignored by Lucas in his synopsis (Tragedy, 1957, p. 97).

page 211 note 2 Atkins, , op. cit. i. 91Google Scholar; Wimsatt, and Brooks, , op. cit., p. 44Google Scholar; whereas Bywater (op. cit., pp. 168–9) retains Aristotle's order Lock (C.R., 1895, p. 251) bravely begs the question: ‘Apparently the action of Danaus himself in arresting Lynceus led to the deliverance of Lynceus and his own doom.’ The play is unknown except for this reference and that at 1455b29 (Gudeman, , op. cit., p. 223Google Scholar, Rostagni, , op. cit., p. 61).Google Scholar

page 212 note 1 Cf. Rostagni, , op. cit., p. 62Google Scholar: ‘II ricono-scimento che piú direttamente aderisce e alia favola e all'azione, e che perciò è piùlodevole, è il riconoscimento delle persone; gli altri (cui si applica il ) vi aderiscono soltanto in via subordinata e indiretta…’.

page 212 note 2 Similarly one does not expect a clever man to be deceived, or a brave man to be beaten (1456a19–23).

page 213 note 1 Vahlen paraphrased:‘… was man that oder thut zu einem bestimmten Zweck, das aber nicht diesen sondern den gerade entgegengesetzten zur Folge hat. ‘Bywater's comment is a triumph of understatement: ‘I cannot help feeling some doubt as to the meaning thus assigned to (op. cit., p. 170).

page 213 note 2 Rostagni's ‘il cambiamento della situa-zione, , “in senso contrario al previsto” o “al prefisso”‘ (op. cit., p. 60) is not quite satisfactory because of the static connotations of ‘situazione’.