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A review by tallulahjt
The Three Theban Plays: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus by Bernard Knox, Robert Fagles, Sophocles
3.0
It is difficult to give this specific book a rating because it is a collection of three plays plus analytical essays describing each play and the historical/mythological context. Essentially, there are so many facets to this book, it is difficult to provide one overarching rating.
I will say, however, that I think the book is overall very well put together. The translations allow for the drama and tragedy to shine through (but could we really expect anything less from Robert Fagles? I love him). Additionally, there is an ample amount of information about each of the plays and about Sophocles' life. That brings up another difficult aspect to reviewing this book: there are essentially two authors. Sophocles wrote the plays but Robert Fagles translated them and provided the contextual essays.
Moving on to the content of the plays, I can definitively say that Antigone was my favorite. It was short, concise, and extremely dramatic (so basically, a very fun reading experience). Oedipus Rex described the prophecy which cursed Oedipus and the effects of said prophecy on his family and on Thebes. I really loved watching each character unravel the story of Oedipus' prophecy and its consequences. Oedipus at Colonus, however, was my least favorite of the three plays. It was extremely long and full of frail, blind Oedipus suffering the repercussions of his curse (basically whining and fighting with Creon and Theseus).
I will say, however, that I think the book is overall very well put together. The translations allow for the drama and tragedy to shine through (but could we really expect anything less from Robert Fagles? I love him). Additionally, there is an ample amount of information about each of the plays and about Sophocles' life. That brings up another difficult aspect to reviewing this book: there are essentially two authors. Sophocles wrote the plays but Robert Fagles translated them and provided the contextual essays.
Moving on to the content of the plays, I can definitively say that Antigone was my favorite. It was short, concise, and extremely dramatic (so basically, a very fun reading experience). Oedipus Rex described the prophecy which cursed Oedipus and the effects of said prophecy on his family and on Thebes. I really loved watching each character unravel the story of Oedipus' prophecy and its consequences. Oedipus at Colonus, however, was my least favorite of the three plays. It was extremely long and full of frail, blind Oedipus suffering the repercussions of his curse (basically whining and fighting with Creon and Theseus).