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Heroes & Quests with Iain Scott
November 10, 2025 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EST
Studies of the role of HEROES and HEROINES are dominated by the insights of JOSEPH CAMPBELL (the Hero with a Thousand Faces) and CARL JUNG (the Hero’s Journey).
Father OWEN LEE has reinforced these perspectives with his brilliant analysis of QUESTS and questing. Heroism is characterized by selfless action, often involving personal risk or sacrifice, to benefit others and to serve a noble cause. By no means all protagonists in opera are heroes, but FLORESTAN in Beethoven’s Fidelio, RODRIGO in Verdi’s Don Carlo fit this profile.
Shakespearean, Wagnerian and most modern heroes are often complicated and flawed or are best understood as ANTI-HEROES.
Female heroism is highlighted with unselfishness and compassion – for example VIOLETTA in Verdi’s La traviata or the slave-girl LIU in Puccini’s Turandot.
Series:
Nov. 10: Heroes & Quests
Nov. 17: Operas from the Old Testament
Nov. 24: Knights in Shining Armour
Dec. 1: Norse Gods in Opera
**Opera is not included in membership**
Presenter
