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539 reviews for:
The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone
Sophocles
3.86 AVERAGE
539 reviews for:
The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone
Sophocles
3.86 AVERAGE
I think I may have been the only high schooler in my city to enjoy this and the only college freshman literature student to want to read it, but I've always cherished Oedipus Rex and Antigone.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The best and most clear translation of the Oedipus story I've read.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Oedipus Cycle is the epitome of Greek tragedies.
Oedipus Rex is the beginning... Classic.
I felt like Oedipus at Colonus was more of a placeholder/transition into Antigone. It’s purpose, I think, was just to end Oedipus’s story.
Antigone is by far my favorite in the Oedipus Cycle. It contains some similar components to Oedipus Rex (prophecy, the wives killing themselves, not acting on prophecy early enough... etc.).
“There is no happiness where there is no wisdom;
No wisdom but in submission to the gods.
Big words are always punished,
And proud men in old age learn to be wise.”
Oedipus Rex is the beginning... Classic.
I felt like Oedipus at Colonus was more of a placeholder/transition into Antigone. It’s purpose, I think, was just to end Oedipus’s story.
Antigone is by far my favorite in the Oedipus Cycle. It contains some similar components to Oedipus Rex (prophecy, the wives killing themselves, not acting on prophecy early enough... etc.).
“There is no happiness where there is no wisdom;
No wisdom but in submission to the gods.
Big words are always punished,
And proud men in old age learn to be wise.”
Some works of literature just sort of lay out the territory of western civilization for you. These plays are a part of the DNA of western civ, to be tussled with as time marches on.
Same with The Iliad, I don't really know what I could possibly add to multiple millennia of discourse, but there's a reason that these are THE tragedies. Incredible in their own right, as well as observing and criticizing the culture they come from.
I'm not sure why there isn't commentary for the first play or why the dedications have no translation even though the authors clearly realize they're writing for an audience that doesn't read Greek. But it's nice to have all three plays bound together so I now know what exactly happens before Antigone since that's the only one I read/watched in school.