erotics of domination, The
Book Description
In The Erotics of Domination, scholar Ellen Greene offers a penetrating examination of power, vulnerability, and desire through the lens of classical Latin poetry. Drawing from the works of three influential Roman poets—Catullus, Propertius, and Ovid—Greene challenges conventional interpretations that have long romanticized these ancient voices.
This scholarly exploration reveals how male sexual longing in classical literature often leads to unexpected reversals of power and identity. Greene demonstrates that the very desires these poetic speakers express ultimately undermine their social standing and moral authority, leaving them in states of emotional vulnerability traditionally associated with femininity in Roman culture.
Rather than celebrating conquest and dominance, these ancient texts expose the paradoxical nature of desire itself—how the pursuit of control can lead to profound powerlessness. Greene's analysis illuminates the complex psychological dynamics at play when passion conflicts with societal expectations of masculine strength and emotional restraint.
For readers interested in understanding the deeper currents of human psychology and the timeless tensions between desire and self-mastery, this work provides valuable insights into how vulnerability and strength interweave in the human experience. Through careful literary analysis, Greene reveals universal patterns of how intense longing can transform our sense of self and challenge our assumptions about power and submission in intimate relationships.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~4 hours)
📄 Length: 142 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Understand psychological principles
- ✓ Explore History and criticism
- ✓ Explore In literature
- ✓ Explore Latin Elegiac poetry
- ✓ Explore Desire in literature
- ✓ Transform your relationships
- ✓ Explore Elegiac poetry, Latin
- ✓ Discover methods to reduce stress
