Estelle Anna B. Lewis / Estelle Anna BLewis / Stella
Sappho: A Tragedy, In Five Acts is a play written by Stella in 1876. The play is centered around the life and struggles of Sappho, a Greek poetess who lived on the island of Lesbos during the 6th century BC. The play is divided into five acts, each depicting a different aspect of Sappho’s life. Act One introduces Sappho as a young woman, struggling to find her place in society as a female poet. She is torn between her passion for writing and her duty to marry and bear children. Act Two shows Sappho in a relationship with a young woman named Phaon, who becomes her muse and inspiration for her poetry. However, their relationship is met with disapproval and condemnation from society, leading to Sappho’s isolation and despair. Act Three depicts Sappho’s attempts to reconcile with her family and society, but her efforts are met with rejection and scorn. Act Four shows Sappho’s descent into madness and despair, as she struggles to come to terms with her own identity and the rejection she faces from those around her. Act Five concludes with Sappho’s suicide, as she chooses to end her life rather than continue living in a world that cannot accept her for who she is. Overall, Sappho: A Tragedy, In Five Acts is a powerful and emotional portrayal of the life and struggles of one of the most famous female poets in history. The play explores themes of love, identity, and societal expectations, and sheds light on the challenges faced by women in ancient Greece.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.