Abstract

The Anthropocene and its core dynamics, particularly climate change, are increasingly described as tragic. This article examines the conceptual framework for interpreting the Anthropocene or its processes as a planetary tragedy. It compares the structural elements and philosophical discourse of Greek tragic drama to the Anthropocene condition and argues that in the face of catastrophic developments the ancient form of theatre does indeed provide a lens through which the connection between agency and suffering, progress and deterioration, power and helplessness can be better understood. It argues that learning from suffering will be vital for a new human self-understanding in the Anthropocene.