In the grip of Minos
confessional discourse in Dante, Corneille, and Racine
Matthew Senior
243 pages | ~7 hrs
In the grip of Minos
confessional discourse in Dante, Corneille, and Racine
By Matthew Senior
In the Grip of Minos offers a fascinating exploration of how the ancient practice of confession has shaped both spiritual understanding and literary expression across centuries. Matthew Senior traces this profound ritual from its origins with the Desert Fathers through pivotal moments like the Lateran decree of 1215 and the Council of Trent, revealing how confession became a cornerstone of human spiritual experience.
At the heart of this study lies Minos, the mythical judge who appears in Homer and Virgil's underworlds. Senior demonstrates how Dante reimagined this figure as a demon compelling souls to confess their truths upon entering the afterlife. This transformation reflects a deeper spiritual reality where confession becomes both gateway and judgment, opening paths to purification while demanding absolute honesty from the soul.
The book examines how this confessional tradition evolved, particularly after the Council of Trent, when confession took on new dimensions of intimate heart-to-heart dialogue. Senior shows how playwrights like Corneille created heroes defined not only by their deeds but by their capacity for honest self-revelation, while Racine brought Minos back to torment characters like Phedre with the weight of conscience.
What makes this work particularly relevant for modern spiritual seekers is Senior's connection between historical confession and contemporary psychoanalysis. Drawing on insights from Freud, Lacan, and Foucault, he reveals how ancient practices of spiritual disclosure continue to influence our understanding of personal transformation and healing today.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore History and criticism
- ✓ Explore Christian drama, French
- ✓ Explore Italian influences
- ✓ Explore Théâtre chrétien français
- ✓ Explore Tragédie française
- ✓ Explore Confession in literature
- ✓ Explore Christianisme et littérature
- ✓ Explore Religion
Topics
Details
- Published
- 1994
- Publisher
- Ohio State University Press
- ISBN-10
- 0814206379
- Pages
- 243
- Language
- EN
- LC Classification
- PQ615.S46 1994
