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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the best translation of the Oresteia you could hope to find. Comparing Carson's work to the others available online, the difference is clear. Carson's translation has soul and uses language that is appropriately modern. It is smooth where other translations are awkward, focusing on getting the point across rather than forcing every single word from the original Greek. The combination of the different playwrights is interesting to see the variation is styles; my favourite is Euripides' Orestes because it feels so self aware and almost sardonic.
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
No
dark
slow-paced
I love Anne Carson! This is so tenderly wrought. Such a good idea to put the three playwrights beside each other and executed perfectly, giving each playwright an individual voice but still overwhelmingly showcasing Carson's incredible skill. Makes the plays so comfortable to read in a modern voice but still respects the original texts. Especially liked the characters of Clytemnestra and Elektra. Really loved the use of occasional Greek words to convey intense pain or suffering and relished the little introductions before each play.
So great. Elektra is probably my new favorite Greek play, and her character is so interesting.
