"Sing, muse, he said, and I have sung": The female sovereign and homo sacer in selection of the 21st century Anglo-American mythological rewritings

"SING, MUSE, HE SAID, AND I HAVE SUNG": THE FEMALE SOVEREIGN AND HOMO SACER IN SELECTION OF THE 21ST CENTURY ANGLO-AMERICAN MYTHOLOGICAL REWRITINGS The examination of women in ancient Greek texts reveals a pattern of silencing and marginalization where their voices and contributions were often overshadowed or ignored. Despite the significant progress made by feminist studies in recovering these voices, the endeavour remains incomplete, necessitating continued discourse on female inclusion in traditionally male-dominated spheres. The present thesis inquires the female voices in ancient Greek mythology through the lens of ancient Greek tragedies and also contemporary mythological rewritings. This thesis contributes to the existing discourse with the introduction of the notion of the sovereign homo sacer, a figure who is both a sovereign and a homo sacer simultaneously, based on the implications of Giorgio Agamben's concept of homo sacer —a figure excluded from political life and deprived of its protection. Central to this research is the application of this new figure through examining mythological queens, Helen, Clytemnestra, and Hecuba, by which the research delves into their portrayal as a sovereign homo sacer in the ancient Greek tragedies and the modern mythological rewritings by Anglo-American authors in the 21st century. Through a feminist biopolitical analysis, the study reveals the complex dynamics of power, and exclusion in both ancient and contemporary contexts. Key words: sovereign homo sacer, female sovereign, sovereign exception, homo sacer, biopolitics, feminism, ancient Greek tragedies, mythological rewritings, Helen, Clytemnestra, Hecuba