Heidegger's Meditation On Classical Tragedy

The European nihilist crisis,which is brought about by the Western modernity from which the gods have been repelled,causes a root-seeking impulse in the German nation.This retrospective contest leads to the discovery of the nature to the primitive ecstasy of ancient Greece,which is manifested by the work of Holderlin,Nietzsche and Heidegger.Holderlin and Nietzsche,as commonly known,have both amply discussed tragedy,the highest expression of ancient Greek art.This essay will focus on Heidegger's thinking of ancient Greek tragedy,especially on his reflection of the tragic image of Antigone by Sophocles.It will use Heidegger's Introduction to Metaphysics and Holderlin's Hymns to interpret Antigone in relation to Heidegger's reflection on classical tragedy,trying to fathom out the turning point of the change of Heidegger's thought.This essay proposes,through dealing with Heidegger's interpretation of Antigone's character,that the aim of Heidegger's related discussion lead to nothing but the re-estimation of the traditional Western metaphysics.This essay consists of three parts,all pointing to Heidegger's reflection on classical tragedy and philosophy according to his interpretation of Antigone.When Heidegger recovers the lost "existence" from the philosophers of ancient Greece,he also finds the original form of "existence" from the text of Antigone.The poetic thinking in the tragedy helps people experience what is the so called "existence." The introduction section of this essay outlines the tracing of the historical background of presocratic Greek philosophy through Holderlin,Nietzsche and Heidegger,and discusses the issue whether Heidegger has given thought to the classical tragedy,and the related academic debates.The first chapter analyzes the image of Antigone in the Introduction to Metaphysics.Heidegger translates the word �????�??� in the first chorus of Antigone as �Unheimlich�,exposing Antigone's terrible power and homeless situation.The second chapter begins with the interpretation of Antigone in Holderlin's Hymns.The combination of the Greek-style understanding of �man� with Holderlin's river poetry creates a dialogue between Germany and Greece.The common point between them is " to be a person with a home".The third chapter sums up the analysis in the former two chapters and draws a conclusion.Antigone is the convergence point of Heidegger's fore and aft thoughts.He turns his attention from everyday existence to ancient Greece.He turns from Nietzsche to Holderlin.His interpretation of Antigone can be viewed as the �Fuge� of his thoughts.There is a close connection between Heidegger's thought of classical tragedy and his philosophy.The conclusion section claims that Antigone enjoys a high position in Heidegger's map of thoughts.Human being's destiny is from Unheimlch,the state of being uncanny/homeless,to Gelassenheit,the state of being resigned,or in other words,all the uncanny homeless people will return to their home with warm and cosy hearth.