The Oracle And The Narrative Of Herodotus

This dissertation will apply the theory of narratology, to survey how Herodotus narrates the history, and which kind of effect the oracles can have on his narrative, with the example of four logoi in The Histories.In the Lydian logoi, Herodotus makes use of prolepsis, analepsis, delay and repetition in the narrative, which are based on the fulfillment of these oracles. Therefore his narrative expresses his faith in them. Today many scholars think that most of them are not true in the view of historical research. However, if we come back to ancient Greek context, we will find that Herodotus’narrative concerning them is "true" in the eyes of ancient Greek people. Morever, there is historical narrative and analysis in his narrative discourse.In the Cyrenaian logoi, Herodotus provides two versions about the settlement of Cyrene, from the points of view of Therans and Cyrenaians. Although both versions refer to the fulfillment of the oracles, the memories of Therans and Cyrenaians are not the same. This is due to the difference of their local traditions. From the different points of view, we can find implied history. Thera may want to keep the relation of itself and its colonization, but Cyrene would like to persue autonomy. The reason why Herodotus takes the multiple perspectives, is that he can’t judge on the oracles which had already planted in oral traditions, and he himself never had been influenced by the past or present politics.In the logoi of Corinthian tyrants, there are different narrators and narratees. From the text of the oracles, we can see the narrator is priestess Pythia, the narratees are Corinthian aristocrats. When people received the oracles, their reactions were as follows. Eetion was satisfied as he knew he would have a son. Bacchiads tried to kill this child. Cypselus captured the state and became a tyrant. From the context of speech, we can see the narrator is Socles, and the narratees are members of Peloponnesian League. Socles told the story in his speech, and successfully persuaded people not to restore the tyranny in Athens. From the full text, we can see, the narrator is Herodotus, and the narratees are his readers. On one hand, Herodotus exhibits the content of different speech to his readers, and invites us to think in our own minds; on the other hand, he presents his opinion on tyranny, namely that tyranny is against the freedom.In the logoi of the wooden wall, Herodotus uses first-person, second-person and third-person. He is in first-person to comment on Athens. The dialogues of Pythia and the Athenian envoy reproduce the scene in the text, and conveniently show the oracles. Then he is in third-person to display the following events, especially about the important person Themistocles. Noteworthily, first-person narrative show Herodotus’ opinion, but the scene of dialogue and third-person narrative hide his view. However, they all express his praise of Athens. Morever, he emphasizes Athenians’contribution to Greek freedom in the Persian War, which is in contrast with the action of "present" Athens in enslaving many other states.These logoi have their own narrative features, but they are all based on fullfillment of the oracles. That is to say, Herodotus constructs this kind of narrative with oracles and their fullfillment. Besides, his aim isn’t to provide the legend of the oracles, but to research on human events.