Tragic views of the human condition : cross-cultural comparisons between views of human nature in Greek and Shakespearean tragedy and the Mahābhārata and Bhagavadgītā

Content: Title Page
 Copyright Page
 Contents
 Acknowledgements
 Chapter 1 Introduction
 1 Scope and key questions
 2 Aspects of tragedy and embedded anthropological issues
 3 Definition and cross-cultural applicability of the notion of the \'tragic\'
 4 The scholarly art of comparing cross-culturally
 5 Main purpose of the comparative enterprise
 Chapter 2 Narrative aspects
 Part I: Greek and Shakespearean Issues
 1 Introduction
 2 Three tragic stories in particular
 3 Specific plot patterns
 4 A specific world view
 5 Irony
 6 Specific subjects
 7 Conclusions
 Part II: Indian and Hindu Issues. 1 Summary of the plot(s) of the Mah bh rata and Bhagavadg t 2 The Mah bh rata\'s specific plot pattern
 3 Mah bh rata\'s specific world view
 4 The Bhagavadg t \'s plot pattern and world view
 5 Conclusions
 Part III: Cross-Cultural Comparisons
 1 Introduction
 2 Specific subjects
 3 Specific plot patterns
 4 A specific world view and the role of irony
 Chapter 3 Artistic-communicative aspects
 Part I: Greek and Shakespearean Issues
 1 Introduction
 2 A specific literary genre
 3 Specific dialogues
 4 A specific audience response
 5 Conclusions
 Part II: Indian and Hindu Issues
 1 Introduction. 2 The Mah bh rata\'s specific literary genre3 The G t \'s specific dialogue
 4 The G t \'s specific audience response
 5 Conclusions
 Part III: Cross-Cultural Comparisons
 1 Introduction
 2 Specific literary genres
 3 Tragic mood and audience response
 4 Specific dialogues
 Chapter 4 Socio-political aspects
 Part I: Tragic and Dramatic Issues
 1 Introduction
 2 G.F.W. Hegel\'s theory of tragedy
 3 The state and the theatre as institutional sources of legitimation and conflict
 4 Religion as an institutional source of legitimation and conflict. 5 The family as an institutional source of legitimation and conflict6 Social status defining the tragic genre
 7 Conclusions
 Part II: Indian and Hindu Issues
 1 Introduction
 2 The state and the family as institutional sources of conflict and legitimation
 3 Religion as an institutional source of legitimation and conflict
 4 Conclusions
 Part III: Cross-Cultural Comparisons
 1 Introduction
 2 Historical origins
 3 Historical functions
 Chapter 5 Literary-cultural aspects
 Part I: Tragic and Dramatic Issues
 1 Introduction
 2 Mythic, legendary and epic stories as narrative sources. 3 The questioning of tradition and the problematization of heroes4 Tragic conflict as a clash of cultural values
 5 The power of language
 6 Historical shifts in world view and view of the human being
 7 Conclusions
 Part II: Indian and Hindu Issues
 1 Introduction
 2 The epic\'s narrative sources and functions
 3 Development and debate of a socio-religious value system
 4 Epic heroes embodying traditional values
 5 The problematization of heroes: Karna and Yudhisthira
 6 Controversial values and problematic heroes
 7 Historico-cultural shifts in the view of the human being
 8 Conclusions.