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Based On The Conviction That Only Translators Who Write Poetry Themselves Can Properly Recreate The Celebrated And Timeless Tragedies Of Aeschylus, Sophocles, And Euripides, The Greek Tragedy In New Translations Series Offers New Translations That Go Beyond The Literal Meaning Of The Greek In Order To Evoke The Sense Of Poetry Evident In The Originals. Under The Editorship Of Peter Burian And Alan Shaprio, Each Volume Includes A Critical Introduction, Commentary On Difficult Passages, Ample Stage Directions, And A Glossary Of The Mythical Names And Geographical References Encountered In The Dialogue. Sophocles' Oedipus The King Paves The Way As The First In The Series To Appear In Paperback. In This Highly-acclaimed Translation Of The Greatest Of All Greek Tragedies, Stephen Berg--the Well-known Poet--and Diskin Clay--the Distinguished Classicist--combine Their Talents To Offer The Contemporary Reader A Dazzling Version Of Sophocles' Timeless Work. Emphasizing The Intensity Of The Spoken Language, They Capture The Unrelenting Power Of Sophoclean Drama. No Other English Translation Conveys The Same Terrifying Emotional Level, Especially In The Choral Odes, The Forceful Descriptions Of Jokasta's Death, The Blinding Of Oedipus, And The Final Scene Of Desolation. Berg And Clay's Translation--now Available For The First Time In Paperback--both Adheres Strictly To The Original Meaning Of The Play And Breathes New Life Into Its Language.
The discovery of a horrific truth regarding his own past forces King Oedipus into a desperate struggle to save his city and his own sanity. As the plague ravages Thebes, Oedipus vows to identify and punish the murderer of the former king, Laius, unaware that the investigation will lead him directly to his own doorstep. The narrative unfolds through a series of intense dialogues and choral interventions, adhering to the classical unities of time, place, and action. Oedipus faces the logical constraints of fate and the physical constraints of his own hubris, as he attempts to outrun a prophecy that has already been fulfilled.
Readers and critics frequently highlight this translation for its focus on the intensity of spoken language rather than mere literal accuracy. Discussion often centers on how the collaboration between a poet and a classicist manages to preserve the rhythmic power of the original Greek text. Many note that the translation succeeds in conveying the visceral horror of the play's climax, particularly the scenes involving the blinding of the protagonist. The inclusion of scholarly commentary and stage directions is often cited as a significant benefit for those approaching the work for the first time. The text is widely regarded as a successful attempt to make ancient drama accessible and resonant for a contemporary audience.
Page Count:
128
Publication Date:
1978-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press, Incorporated
ISBN-10:
0199769818
ISBN-13:
9780199769810
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