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534 reviews for:
The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone
Sophocles
3.86 AVERAGE
534 reviews for:
The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone
Sophocles
3.86 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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:
Complicated
I love all three of these plays, but Antigone will always be my favorite (and possible my favorite play EVER) I have read it multiple times throughout school and adulthood, and every time I am struck by Antigone’s commitment to her beliefs in the face of a proud ruler who refuses wisdom from others. In the face of injustice, she stands firm. I will always love her monologue before her final exit, and the proud proclamation that she honored her god and will die knowing she was right. The tragedy of the play comes after Creon has realized his pride has led to the death of his wife and sons and he sees Antigone, dead on a noose in her cave. She never saw vindication in her life, but she died knowing she was in the right. After reading the first two plays, you understand how tragic Antigone’s life had been, making her final days of faith in the face of injustice so powerful.
As for Creon’s character arc, what a tragic but hopeful ending! In Oedipus the King we see him as a man with power but no desire for the throne. But, once he does take the throne, we see him grow colder to the well being of others. In Oedipus at Colonus we learn he is using and manipulating others to seek better fate from the gods. By the time we get to Antigone, he is making decisions without the counsel of others, and is using his power as an iron rod with which to rule his people. The chorus, his son, and the prophet all seek to persuade him of a better way of rule. They try to convince him that being a good king does not come from harsh laws and making all decisions by himself, as if he has ultimate, infallible wisdom. Being a good ruler means humbly seeking wisdom from others and making decisions to serve the people under him. Creon realizes this too late, and by the time he has a change of heart, everyone he loves is dead. But, it leaves me with hope that he would be a better king for the people of Thebes and rule with justice and humility rather than harshness, as a result of the events of the play.
As for Creon’s character arc, what a tragic but hopeful ending! In Oedipus the King we see him as a man with power but no desire for the throne. But, once he does take the throne, we see him grow colder to the well being of others. In Oedipus at Colonus we learn he is using and manipulating others to seek better fate from the gods. By the time we get to Antigone, he is making decisions without the counsel of others, and is using his power as an iron rod with which to rule his people. The chorus, his son, and the prophet all seek to persuade him of a better way of rule. They try to convince him that being a good king does not come from harsh laws and making all decisions by himself, as if he has ultimate, infallible wisdom. Being a good ruler means humbly seeking wisdom from others and making decisions to serve the people under him. Creon realizes this too late, and by the time he has a change of heart, everyone he loves is dead. But, it leaves me with hope that he would be a better king for the people of Thebes and rule with justice and humility rather than harshness, as a result of the events of the play.
did they really change it say God instead of gods that’s so funny
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
sad
slow-paced
In Honors English we had to read Antigone by Sophocles,translated by E.F. Watling, and I enjoyed it a lot. His translation is easy to read and easy to digest. It won't take you twenty minutes to decipher a single line of the play :)If a English teacher is looking for a version of Antigone to teach from I would definitely recommend teaching from this translation because I know, being a student myself, that the students will be able to understand and enjoy this version of Antigone which is easy to study from, as well.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Excellent translation of a classic tragedy.
I really enjoyed Antigone and King Oedipus. Wasn't so crazy about Oedipus at Colonus.