Author Description
Sophocles Stands As One Of The Greatest Dramatists Of All Time, And One Of The Most Influential On Artists And Thinkers Over The Centuries. His Plays Are Deeply Disturbing And Unpredictable, Unrelenting And Open-ended, Refusing To Present Firm Answers To The Questions Of Human Existence, Or To Provide A Redemptive Justification Of The Ways Of Gods To Men-or Women. These Three Tragedies Portray The Extremes Of Human Suffering And Emotion, Turning The Heroic Myths Into Supreme Works Of Poetry And Dramatic Action. Antigone's Obsession With The Dead, Creon's Crushing Inflexibility, Deianeira's Jealous Desperation, The Injustice Of The Gods Witnessed By Hyllus, Electra's Obsessive Vindictiveness, The Threatening Of Insoluble Dynastic Contamination... Such Are The Pains And Distortions And Instabilities Of Sophoclean Tragedy. And Yet They Do Not Deteriorate Into Cacophony Or Disgust Or Incoherence Or Silence: They Face The Music, And Through That The Suffering Is Itself Turned Into The Coherence Of Music And Poetry. These Original And Distinctive Verse Translations Convey The Vitality Of Sophocles' Poetry And The Vigour Of The Plays In Performance, Doing Justice To Both The Sound Of The Poetry And The Theatricality Of The Tragedies. Each Play Is Accompanied By An Introduction And Substantial Notes On Topographical And Mythical References And Interpretation. Antigone Is An Icon Of Greek Tragedy, And Antigone Is Herself A Tragic Icon In World Theatre. Sophocles' Best-known And Most Performed Play Tells A Story Of Defiance And The Impossible Demands Of Loyalty. Deianeira, Also Known As Women Of Trachis Or Trachinaian Women, Wrestles With The Anxieties Of Matrimony And Motherhood, Following The Doomed Attempt By The Wife Of The Hero Heracles To Assert Her Dignity. Electra Portrays A Vengeful Daughter's Journey Through Unflagging Grief And Murderous Fury, Ending Without Resolution In Uncertainty And Suspense.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
These three tragedies center on the collision between individual moral imperatives and the rigid, often destructive, structures of divine and political law. Each play follows a protagonist—Antigone, Deianeira, or Electra—as they navigate extreme emotional and physical crises. The narrative framework utilizes the conventions of Greek drama, characterized by choral odes, dialogue-heavy scenes, and the inevitable progression toward tragic outcomes. These characters face insurmountable opposition from state authority, familial duty, and the capricious nature of the gods, forcing them to act within the constraints of their respective mythic destinies.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Verse translation emphasizing the rhythmic vitality of the original Greek
- Exploration of the conflict between state law and personal conscience
- Examination of the psychological toll of grief and vengeance
- Inclusion of scholarly introductions for each play
- Detailed notes on topographical and mythical references
- Focus on the theatricality and performance potential of the texts
- Analysis of the instability of dynastic and familial structures
- Presentation of open-ended narratives that resist simple moral resolution
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Readers and scholars frequently highlight the effectiveness of these translations in capturing the raw, musical quality of Sophoclean verse. Discussion often centers on the stark portrayal of human suffering and the refusal of the plays to offer easy redemptive arcs for their protagonists. Critics note that the inclusion of substantial notes provides necessary context for understanding the complex mythological landscape of ancient Greece. The balance between the poetic structure and the inherent dramatic tension makes these versions particularly useful for both academic study and theatrical performance. Readers appreciate how the text maintains the unsettling, unpredictable nature of the original works without sacrificing clarity.
Page Count:
240
Publication Date:
2020-01-01
ISBN-10:
0192608878
ISBN-13:
9780192608871
Drama
Poetry
Plays
Classical
Ancient
Greek Tragedy