Reviews - Antigone | The StoryGraph

2.38k reviews for:

Antigone

Sophocles

3.62 AVERAGE

walkingtragedyy's review against another edition

5.0

i’m afraid sophocles ate with this one

dreadthemad's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

anisha_inkspill's review against another edition

4.0

I didn’t know I had a translation by Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald, I found this in a book of anthology sitting on my bookshelf. Later, a Google search told me this was first published in 1939.

Before reading this, I read a translation by Francis Storr, written a quarter of a century earlier and in the public domain.

Francis Storr’s translation was plainer compared to the sharp imagery in Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald’s translation. Both translations are easy to follow, and left me with a clear sense of the conflict.

Reading this back in 2019 my sympathies were with Antigone. This time round, this hasn’t changed but I no longer see Creon being a callous tyrant, instead I see him trying to get some order back into Thebes after a war. The first thing he says is:

“Elders, the gods have righted one again
Our storm-tossed ship of state, now safe in port.”*

‘storm-tossed ship’ is the war caused by Oedipus’s sons who fell out over ruling Thebes. In trying to manage the after effects of this war, I think, Creon lost some of his good sense. When he regains this it’s with a harsh lesson: “[t]here is no happiness where there is no wisdom”. **

Reading Antigone by Sophocles again, I now see there are many layers in this story.

* from Francis Storr translation
** from Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald translation.

genevieverousseau's review against another edition

3.0

what sets this play apart is its exploration of the human condition and the struggle between individual conscience and the laws of the state. it raises questions about what it means to do what is right, even when it goes against authority. antigone's unwavering determination to honor her brother is admirable and inspiring, and her tragic fate is a sobering reminder of the consequences of challenging those in power.

while the play is undoubtedly a classic, it may not be for everyone. the language can be difficult to understand and the themes are pretty heavy. i also found the portrayal of gender roles and female agency to be outdated and problematic, but i mean, that's sophocles for ya.