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Antigone ****
Oedipus ****
Elektra ***
Intro and Explanatory notes *****
Oedipus ****
Elektra ***
Intro and Explanatory notes *****
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Antigone - Oedipus the King - Electra
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This volume contains three masterpieces by the Greek playwright Sophocles, widely regarded since antiquity as the greatest of all the tragic poets. The vivid translations, which combine elegance and modernity, are remarkable for their lucidity and accuracy, and are equally suitable for reading for pleasure, study, or theatrical performance. The selection of Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Electra not only offers the reader the most influential and famous of Sophocles' works, it also presents in one volume the two plays dominated by a female heroic figure, and the experience of the two great dynasties featured in Greek tragedy--the houses of Oedipus and Agamemnon.
178 pages, Paperback
First published January 1,-0429
This edition
- Format
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178 pages, Paperback
- Published
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September 17, 1998 by Oxford University Press
- ISBN
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9780192835888
- ASIN
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0192835882
- Language
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English
About the author
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Sophocles (497/496 BC-406/405 BC), (Greek: Σοφοκλής; German: Sophokles, Russian: Софокл, French: Sophocle) was an ancient Greek tragedian, known as one of three from whom at least one play has survived in full. His first plays were written later than, or contemporary with, those of Aeschylus; and earlier than, or contemporary with, those of Euripides. Sophocles wrote over 120 plays, but only seven have survived in a complete form: Ajax, Antigone, Women of Trachis, Oedipus Rex, Electra, Philoctetes, and Oedipus at Colonus. For almost fifty years, Sophocles was the most celebrated playwright in the dramatic competitions of the city-state of Athens which took place during the religious festivals of the Lenaea and the Dionysia. He competed in thirty competitions, won twenty-four, and was never judged lower than second place. Aeschylus won thirteen competitions, and was sometimes defeated by Sophocles; Euripides won four.
The most famous tragedies of Sophocles feature Oedipus and Antigone: they are generally known as the Theban plays, though each was part of a different tetralogy (the other members of which are now lost). Sophocles influenced the development of drama, most importantly by adding a third actor (attributed to Sophocles by Aristotle; to Aeschylus by Themistius), thereby reducing the importance of the chorus in the presentation of the plot. He also developed his characters to a greater extent than earlier playwrights.
The most famous tragedies of Sophocles feature Oedipus and Antigone: they are generally known as the Theban plays, though each was part of a different tetralogy (the other members of which are now lost). Sophocles influenced the development of drama, most importantly by adding a third actor (attributed to Sophocles by Aristotle; to Aeschylus by Themistius), thereby reducing the importance of the chorus in the presentation of the plot. He also developed his characters to a greater extent than earlier playwrights.
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Rating(3.9 / 5.0, 99 votes)
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Wa een banger
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The play is great of course, and very fun to teach. Creon is such a bastard and the teenagers love that his teenage son is the only sane character. What I really want to recommend is this version, put out by Cambridge. The translation is excellent and uses modern language well, and the notes on the side do an excellent job of putting all the references the Greeks would have taken for granted in cultural context. Totally changes the way you understand the play.
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n Antigone: 5 starsn
What I love about the character of Antigone, is that she is willing to do anything if she believes that, this is the right thing to do. She doesn’t care about higher power such as the law (Creon) and she refuses to submit to it, therefore she is punished for it.
I wish someone would write a retelling of this myth because she is an interesting character. She has such a deep sense of filial piety for her brother, that she is willing to disobey the law and die so that he could be buried and not wander eternally without finding his way to the underworld.
n Oedipus the King: 5 starsn
Oedipus the King or no matter how hard you try to escape your fate, what is meant to be, will eventually happen. It’s pretty clear if you read any myth that no one can escape their fates, whether it’s Oedipus, Iocasta, or Laius, they all try their luck but end up meeting it anyway.
n Electra: 3 starsn
It’s definitely my least favourite among the three plays. I found the character of Electra a little similar to Antigone, since they are both looking for justice regarding a member of their family.
What I love about the character of Antigone, is that she is willing to do anything if she believes that, this is the right thing to do. She doesn’t care about higher power such as the law (Creon) and she refuses to submit to it, therefore she is punished for it.
I wish someone would write a retelling of this myth because she is an interesting character. She has such a deep sense of filial piety for her brother, that she is willing to disobey the law and die so that he could be buried and not wander eternally without finding his way to the underworld.
n Oedipus the King: 5 starsn
Oedipus the King or no matter how hard you try to escape your fate, what is meant to be, will eventually happen. It’s pretty clear if you read any myth that no one can escape their fates, whether it’s Oedipus, Iocasta, or Laius, they all try their luck but end up meeting it anyway.
n Electra: 3 starsn
It’s definitely my least favourite among the three plays. I found the character of Electra a little similar to Antigone, since they are both looking for justice regarding a member of their family.
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The play was a very interesting story. I found it interesting because of the murder mystery aspect.
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I read Oedipus Rex in high school, but had never read Antigone or Electra. Many common themes between the three which makes more sense of references to Greek tragedies. Bloody stuff and whatever you do beware oracles!
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A stunning mesh of power and tragedy.
This collection holds 3 morally hard-hitting plays, each demonstrating a glimpse into classical antiquity and ancient societal dynamics.
Oedipus presented a poignant story of emotional revenge and realisation, while Electra explored grief and simultaneous gain- however, Antigone was my favourite of the set.
A tale of feminine power, societal oppression and familial love. The story of Antigone is a classic tragedy, arrogance with devastating consequence.
“Was I to stand before the god’s tribunal for disobeying them , because I feared a man?”
This collection holds 3 morally hard-hitting plays, each demonstrating a glimpse into classical antiquity and ancient societal dynamics.
Oedipus presented a poignant story of emotional revenge and realisation, while Electra explored grief and simultaneous gain- however, Antigone was my favourite of the set.
A tale of feminine power, societal oppression and familial love. The story of Antigone is a classic tragedy, arrogance with devastating consequence.
“Was I to stand before the god’s tribunal for disobeying them , because I feared a man?”
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The play Oedipus the King, by Sophocles is one of the great classics of ancient Greece, written in 430 B.C. Written to be a tragedy, the fictional play takes the reader on a dramatic journey filled with several different themes and hidden messages set in the ancient Greek city of Thebes. The play starts out with a cry to the king, Oedipus, that gods have implemented upon the city a curse of fertility. The curse causes all crops and livestock to die and removes the ability to give birth from human mothers. The curse has been implemented for the murder of the former king of themes, Laius.
At first, Oedipus is disgruntled upon hearing the news, however, he then puts on an act of sorrow and compassion for the citizens, and pledges that he will be able to stop the curse because of how great he was. This is just one of the moments where the theme of hubris, having too much pride, comes up in the story. The theme also comes up when Oedipus accuses his fellow member of the triumvirate, Creon, the killer of Laius.
The theme of having too much hubris also ties into the theme of blindness. Throughout the story, Oedipus visits the oracle at Delphi, Teiresias, to find insight on the murder of Laius. Oedipus seeks Teiresias’ insight because he has been the ability to see into the past and future, but not the present, as he is blind. The information that Oedipus receives from Teiresias does not please him, as Teiresias accused Oedipus of being the killer. Oedipus, blinded by his hubris, does not believe him and believes Creon bribed Teiresias. That is how the theme of hubris and blindness connect to one another.
There is also an additional main theme in the play, the theme of fate. While Oedipus was at a wedding in Corinth, another ancient Greek city, a drunk man claimed he was destined to follow a certain, tragic path in life. Startled by his proclamation, he runs away from the city and ends up in the Thebes, living peacefully married to Jocasta, the former husband of Laius. Eventually, Oedipus is consumed by his fate and that is how he meets his downfall.
The writing style of Sophocles made the play very exciting to read. Sophocles had many different hidden messages that were intertwined with each other, and discovering them and piecing them together was added a new aspect to the story. The three themes were all hidden messages, as Sophocles never directly stated them or their impact on the story. He also never stated their connection to one another. Another thing that Sophocles did was state throughout the play some of the themes but did not go into full depth about them and their true meaning. He did this with the theme of blindness, as he told the reader that Teiresias was blind, but did not tell the reader about how Oedipus was blinded by his own hubris, and let the reader make that connection on their own. Furthermore, another overarching theme I noticed was the theme of a triumvirate. Sophocles mentioned the triumvirate of Oedipus, Jocasta, and Creon, but he did not mention the triumvirate of the three themes. The reason I believe these three themes make up a triumvirate is because they are all equally important in influencing the outcome of the story, just like a triumvirate of rulers. Overall, Oedipus the King was a wonderful and exciting play to read, analyze, and reflect upon.
At first, Oedipus is disgruntled upon hearing the news, however, he then puts on an act of sorrow and compassion for the citizens, and pledges that he will be able to stop the curse because of how great he was. This is just one of the moments where the theme of hubris, having too much pride, comes up in the story. The theme also comes up when Oedipus accuses his fellow member of the triumvirate, Creon, the killer of Laius.
The theme of having too much hubris also ties into the theme of blindness. Throughout the story, Oedipus visits the oracle at Delphi, Teiresias, to find insight on the murder of Laius. Oedipus seeks Teiresias’ insight because he has been the ability to see into the past and future, but not the present, as he is blind. The information that Oedipus receives from Teiresias does not please him, as Teiresias accused Oedipus of being the killer. Oedipus, blinded by his hubris, does not believe him and believes Creon bribed Teiresias. That is how the theme of hubris and blindness connect to one another.
There is also an additional main theme in the play, the theme of fate. While Oedipus was at a wedding in Corinth, another ancient Greek city, a drunk man claimed he was destined to follow a certain, tragic path in life. Startled by his proclamation, he runs away from the city and ends up in the Thebes, living peacefully married to Jocasta, the former husband of Laius. Eventually, Oedipus is consumed by his fate and that is how he meets his downfall.
The writing style of Sophocles made the play very exciting to read. Sophocles had many different hidden messages that were intertwined with each other, and discovering them and piecing them together was added a new aspect to the story. The three themes were all hidden messages, as Sophocles never directly stated them or their impact on the story. He also never stated their connection to one another. Another thing that Sophocles did was state throughout the play some of the themes but did not go into full depth about them and their true meaning. He did this with the theme of blindness, as he told the reader that Teiresias was blind, but did not tell the reader about how Oedipus was blinded by his own hubris, and let the reader make that connection on their own. Furthermore, another overarching theme I noticed was the theme of a triumvirate. Sophocles mentioned the triumvirate of Oedipus, Jocasta, and Creon, but he did not mention the triumvirate of the three themes. The reason I believe these three themes make up a triumvirate is because they are all equally important in influencing the outcome of the story, just like a triumvirate of rulers. Overall, Oedipus the King was a wonderful and exciting play to read, analyze, and reflect upon.
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