Idyll 15 Analysis

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Gorgo and Praxinoa in Theocritus’ Idyll 15 Theocritus, unlike many others, wrote his Idyll 15 from the perspective of women, by describing a dialogue between two dynamic female characters in the city of Alexandria. Gorgo and Praxinoa are shown to be outspoken, independent, and intelligent, suggesting that women in Alexandria had more liberties than previous and other areas of the Greek world. Theocritus employed a dialogic style, which gave the female characters their own voice; in doing so, he was better able to represent their perspectives and personalities, creating rounded characters. Gorgo and Praxinoa make their opinions known; for instance, the women complain often of their husbands’ foolishness (Theocritus, Idyll 15, 8, 15, 17). They

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