Shadi Bartsch, a renowned classicist and professor at the University of Chicago, dives deep into the relevance of ancient texts in today's world. She discusses her new translation of the Aeneid, arguing its themes of justice and fate remain vital. Bartsch also explores how Western classics are interpreted in China, revealing cultural contrasts in philosophical thought. Their conversation highlights the complexity of Virgil's work beyond propaganda and examines how differing cultural contexts shape our understanding of citizenship and ethics.
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The Value of Classics
Classics are valuable because they invite conversation and debate around important questions.
They stand the test of time by engaging with different time periods and cultures, offering pliancy for diverse interpretations.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Aeneid's Evolving Interpretations
Virgil's Aeneid has been interpreted differently throughout history, from praising the emperor to justifying imperialism.
Even during the Vietnam War, it was seen as an anti-war piece.
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Aeneid: A Story of Foundation and Duty
The Aeneid, a story about founding Rome, explores themes of destiny and authority.
Aeneas, the hero, is tempted by Queen Dido but ultimately follows his divinely ordained mission.
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The Analects is a classic text that addresses practical issues of life and conduct through dialogues, stories, and anecdotes. Confucius's teachings focus on virtue, happiness, state governance, and human relationships, all based on principles of justice and moderation. Translated by Arthur Waley and introduced by Sarah Allan, this edition remains one of the most influential texts in philosophy even after two and a half millennia.
The Iliad
Homer
The Iliad is an epic poem attributed to Homer, set during the Trojan War. It begins in the ninth year of the war, where a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles sets off a chain of events. The poem explores themes of heroism, honor, and fate as it describes the battles and interactions between Greek warriors like Achilles, Diomedes, and Odysseus, and Trojan warriors like Hector and Paris. The story is interspersed with divine interventions from Greek gods and goddesses, influencing the outcome of the war. The poem culminates with Achilles' reconciliation with Agamemnon and his subsequent rage against the Trojans, leading to the death of Hector and the eventual funeral rites for Patroclus and Hector[1][3][5].
Plato Goes to China
Shadi Bartsch
This book examines the ways in which Chinese nationalist thinkers have utilized Greek classical texts, particularly in the context of China's modernization and political shifts. It highlights two distinct waves of engagement with these texts: one during the early twentieth century and another following the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989. The book explores how figures like Plato and Aristotle have been interpreted to support or critique Western democracy and the Chinese socialist system.
The Aeneid
Virgil
The Aeneid, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, is a monumental work of classical literature. It follows the journey of Aeneas, a Trojan hero, as he navigates from the ruins of Troy to Italy, where he is destined to found the city of Lavinium, a precursor to Rome. The poem is divided into 12 books, with the first six detailing Aeneas' wanderings and the second six describing the war in Italy against the Latins. The epic incorporates various legends and mythological elements, glorifying traditional Roman virtues and legitimizing the Julio-Claudian dynasty. It explores themes such as duty, fate, and the relationship between the individual and society, and has had a profound influence on Western literature[2][3][4].
The Odyssey
Homer
The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges. Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage. With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne. The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.
In our postmodern world, studying the classics of ancient Greece and Rome can seem quaint at best, downright repressive at worst. (We are talking about works by dead white men, after all.) Do we still have things to learn from classical philosophy, drama, and poetry? Shadi Bartsch offers a vigorous affirmative to this question in two new books coming from different directions. First, she has newly translated the Aeneid, Vergil’s epic poem about the founding myth of Rome, bringing its themes into conversation with the modern era. Second, in the upcoming Plato Goes to China, she explores how a non-Western society interprets classic works of Western philosophy, and what that tells us about each culture.
Shadi Bartsch-Zimmer received her Ph.D. in Classics from the University of California, Berkeley. She is currently the Helen A. Regenstein Distinguished Service Professor of Classics at the University of Chicago. Among her awards are a Guggenheim Fellowship, an American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship, and multiple teaching awards. She has served as the Editor-in-Chief of Classical Philology, and is the Founding Director of the Stevanovich Institute on the Formation of Knowledge. She is developing an upcoming podcast.
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