Abstract

MARTIN, Richard P.. Hesiod and The Didactic Double . Synthesis (La Plata) [online]. 2004, vol.11, pp.31-53. ISSN 0328-1205.

An unusual feature of Hesiod's didactic strategy in the Works and Days is the inclusion of his brother, Perses, as addressee. Whether or not there is an historical basis for the financial dispute between the brothers as represented in the poem is of less interest than the stance that such a (possibly fictional) situation entails. For the advisor-figure, Hesiod, naturally maintains a different attitude toward a brother than he would if his advisee were a son, a future king, or a student---all of which roles are more typical in the didactic traditions attested in world literature. This paper goes on to explore the tensions, mythic resonances, and ambiguities inherent in the choice of the brother-figure as recipient of advice, and concludes that this particular didactic configuration provides a more open-ended and acceptable entry through which any audience can interact with the wisdom traditions enshrined in Hesiodic verse.

Keywords : Hesiod; Didactic Poetry; Work and Days.

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