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The Theban Plays Of Sophocles (The Theban Plays #1-3)

by Sophocles, David R. Slavitt (Translator)

3.90 · rating details · 11,575 ratings · 392 reviews

In this needed and highly anticipated new translation of the Theban plays of Sophocles, David R. Slavitt presents a fluid, accessible, and modern version for both longtime admirers of the plays and those encountering them for the first time. Unpretentious and direct, Slavitt’s translation preserves the innate verve and energy of the dramas, engaging the reader—or audience

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Paperback, 288 pages

Published October 27th 2009 by Yale University Press (first published -401)

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Jan 05, 2010

Claire added it · review of another edition

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Your Name: Claire Holleran
Date: 1/3/09

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
-Oedipus (Oedipus the King)
-Creon (Oedipus the King) (Antigone)
-Jocasta (Oedipus the King)
-Teiresias (Oedipus the King) (Antigone)
-Antigone (Antigone)
-Ismene (Antigone)
-Haemon (Antigone)

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.):
-play ...more

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Jan 05, 2010

Julie added it · review of another edition

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Your Name: Julie Barnard
Date: 1/4/10

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
Oedipus
Anitgone
Creon

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.):
play

Setting:
Greece

Action of the work or the sequence of events (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work and only include the most importan...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Olivia added it · review of another edition

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Your Name: Olivia Gacka
Date: 1/4/09

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters): Oedipus (Oedipus the King), Antigone (Antigone), Ismane (Antigone), Creon (Oedipus the King and Antigone) Haemon (Antigone)

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): Drama, Tragedy

Setting: Thebes

Action of the work or the sequence of events (if there are multipl...moreTOPICS TO COVER:

Your Name: Olivia Gacka
Date: 1/4/09

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters): Oedipus (Oedipus the King), Antigone (Antigone), Ismane (Antigone), Creon (Oedipus the King and Antigone) Haemon (Antigone)

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): Drama, Tragedy

Setting: Thebes

Action of the work or the sequence of events (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work and only include the most important events): OEDIPUS THE KING- Oedipus has discovered a disturbance in Thebes, and later discovers he is the reason for it, and it is revealed to him that he has fulfilled his fate, by killing his father and marrying his mother, producing a scandal and forever condemned his family to a life of mockery. His wife hangs herself, Oedipus blinds himself, and Creon tells him to leave Thebes. ANTIGONE- Antigone asks her sister, Ismane, to help her lift the body of their brother, the one who did not receive a proper burial as opposed to their brother that did. Ismane does not want to go against the state, so she will not help Antigone. But, when Antigone is caught in her second attempt to cover the body, ismane attempts to take credit, so she can die with her sister, but Antigone will not let her die because of what she did (or tried to do). Creon sentences her to death. When Antigone is in the cave, she hangs herself. When Haemon goes to the cave, he sees that she is dead, and kills himself, and Creon’s wife does the same, leaving Creon desolate.

Themes: Loyalty, Fate, light/dark, hubris, blind/not blind,

Symbols/Motifs: Blindness, Light

Overarching idea of the the essay you completed on this work: That fate is a futuristic look at how you use your free will, and what you do with it.

Personal feelings/understanding of the text (what did you like/dislike? Why?): I liked "Oedipus the King" the best, because i found it the most intriging due to its irony and sadness, and how Oedipus reacts to the horrible events in his life, and what his fate and free will compells him to do.
(less)

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Jan 04, 2010

Morgan od added it · review of another edition

Your Name: Morgan O'Donnell
Date: 1/4/10

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
-King Oedipus: Oedipus, Jocasta, Teiresias, and Creon
-Antigone: Creon, Antigone, and Ismene

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): play
Setting:

-King Oedipus: takes place in ancient Greece specifically Thebes
-Antigone: also takes place in ancient Thebes, Greece

...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Stephanie added it · review of another edition

Name: Stephanie Hogan
Date: January 4, 2010

The Theban Plays King Oedipus, Oedipus at Colonus & Antigone

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
King Oedipus – Oedipus, Creon, Jocasta, Teiresias
Antigone – Antigone, Creon, Haemon, Ismene

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): tragedy

Setting: Thebes

Action of the work or the sequence of event...moreName: Stephanie Hogan
Date: January 4, 2010

The Theban Plays King Oedipus, Oedipus at Colonus & Antigone

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
King Oedipus – Oedipus, Creon, Jocasta, Teiresias
Antigone – Antigone, Creon, Haemon, Ismene

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): tragedy

Setting: Thebes

Action of the work or the sequence of events (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work and only include the most important events):
King Oedipus – Things are not going well in Thebes and the people are suffering so they pray to the Gods and Oedipus sends Creon out to find out the reasons for the despair. There is an unclean man in Thebes, a murderer, who they must find and banish to end the city’s despair. The blind prophet, Teiresias tells Oedipus that Oedipus himself is the murdered but Oedipus does not listen but blames Creon. In the end Oedipus finds out that it was true and Jocasta kills herself when she founds out. Oedipus blinds himself and Creon takes over.
Antigone – Creon lets one of Antigone’s brothers have a proper burial but not the other, Polynices, because he was fighting against the city. Antigone asks her sister Ismene to help bury their brother, Polynices, but Ismene said no so Antigone went and performed a burial ritual but was not caught. Creon was mad when he found out and has his guards uncover the body. Antigone comes back to find the body unburied and starts to bury it again but gets caught this time. Creon sentences her to death. When in the cave, Antigone hangs herself. Haemon goes into the cave to get her, finds her dead, and kills himself. When Creon’s wife finds out she kills herself. Creon is left miserable.

Themes: loyalty, fate, free will, Hubris, sight versus blindness, dark versus light, hubris

Symbols/Motifs: predestination, blindness, loyalty

Overarching idea of the essay you completed on this work: In Oedipus the King, Sophocles uses the motif of sight versus blindness and light versus darkness at certain points throughout the play to express knowledge, truth, and death, helping the reader to understand Oedipus’ journey and to show what he learns throughout this journey during the play.

Personal feelings/understanding of the text (what did you like/dislike? Why?): I think that the stories were very interesting. The Theban Plays are very different than the usual books I read. I liked reading a different story that was also a play. However, the tragic endings were a little depressing. (less)

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Jan 04, 2010

Maggie added it · review of another edition

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Your Name: Maggie Evans
Date: January 4, 2010 Monday

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
- Antigone
- Creon
- Ismene
- Oedipus
- The Chorus
- Teirisias
- Jocasta
- Haemon

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): play and tragedy

Setting: Thebes

Action of the work or the sequence...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Maria Hershey added it · review of another edition

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Your Name: Maria Hershey
Date: 1/4/10

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
King Oedipus - Oedipus, Creon, Jocasta
Antigone - Creon, Haemon, Antigone, Ismane

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.):
play

Setting:
Thebes, ancient Greek city

Action of the work or the sequence of events (if there are multiple works w...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Lucy Adamo added it · review of another edition

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Your Name:
Date:

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.):

Setting:

Action of the work or the sequence of events (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work and only include the most important events):

Themes:

Symbols/Motifs:

Overaching idea of...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Katie M added it · review of another edition

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Your Name: Katie Muniz
Date: January 4, 2010

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters): Oedipus the King: Oedipus, Creon, Jocasta,Teiresias, the Chorus. Antigone: Antigone, Creon, Ismene, Hemon, Teiresias.

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.):Play

Setting: Thebes, Greece

Action of the work or the sequence of events (if there are multiple...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Caylene added it · review of another edition

Your Name: Caylene Parrish
Date: January 4, 2010

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):

Oedipus(both Oedipus the King and Antigone)King of Thebes in first play
Creon (both Oedipus the King and Antigone)King of Thebes in Antigone, brother of Jocasta, Oedipus' wife/mother
Haemon (The final play, Antigone) son of Creon, engaged to Antigone
Teiresias(both Oedipus the King and ...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Francesca added it · review of another edition

Your Name: Francesca Cicileo
Date: January 4, 2010

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
Oedipus the King: Oedipus, Creon, Jocasta, Teiresias, Chorus
Antigone: Antigone, Ismene, Creon, Teiresias

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): play and tragedy

Setting: Thebes

Action of the work or the sequence of events (if there are multiple works withi...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Ally added it · review of another edition

TOPICS TO COVER: Kind Oedipus and Antigone

Your Name: Ally Corbi
Date: January 4, 2010

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
-Oedipus: King, father of Antigone & Isme
- Jocasta: Wife& Mother to Oedipus...Sister to Creon
-Creon: King in Antigone..Oedipus' uncle & brother-in-law
-Antigone: Daughter of Oedipus...Sister of Ismeme
-Ismeme: Daughter of Oedipus...Sister ...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Maggie Perkal added it · review of another edition

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Your Name: Maggie Perkal
Date: 1/4/10

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters): Oedipus, Antigone, Creon
Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): play

Setting: Greece

Action of the work or the sequence of events (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work and only include the most important events):

The most im...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Lmclaughlin added it · review of another edition

Review "The Theban Plays" by Sophocles.
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The Theban Plays King Oedipus, Oedipus at Colonus & Antigone

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Jan 04, 2010

Maghan Meyers added it · review of another edition

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Your Name: Maghan Meyers
Date: 1/4/10

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters): Oedipus the King: Oedipus, Creon, the blind prophet (Teiresias. Antigone: Antigone, Creon

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): play

Setting: Thebes, a Greek city-state with a King. This town had undergone a period of tragedy until Oediopus came and solved the riddle...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Gianna Ciminello added it · review of another edition

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Your Name: Gianna Ciminello
Date: 1/4/10

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters): Oedipus,Antigone, Creon, Jocasta, Chorus, Teiresias, Theseus, Ismene

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): play

Setting: Thebes

Action of the work or the sequence of events (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work and only include the m...more

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Oct 05, 2011

Audrie rated it

· review of another edition

Since this edition of the stories comes in a threesome, I had to give it the four-star rating based on my impression of all the stories. Here's the break down:

Oedipus Rex-Okay...this play is definitely gross. It has a wonderful theme and I enjoyed writing the essay for my honors class but I'm sorry, it still involved mother-son incest and patricide/regicide. For my class that was one of the hardest things to overlook and it really distracted me and my classmates from the rest of the pl...more

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Aug 04, 2011

Edward Waters rated it

· review of another edition

Most English translations of, say, the Greek New Testament are shepherded by a conviction that the original words had divine inspiration and so are best rendered verbatim wherever possible. At the same time, there generally is a concession (for good or ill) to the reality that if what results is not sufficiently lofty and reverential in tone, the faithful are unlikely to accept it. Attempts at classical Greek drama and poetry tend to be guided by rather different considerations: The translator's...moreMost English translations of, say, the Greek New Testament are shepherded by a conviction that the original words had divine inspiration and so are best rendered verbatim wherever possible. At the same time, there generally is a concession (for good or ill) to the reality that if what results is not sufficiently lofty and reverential in tone, the faithful are unlikely to accept it. Attempts at classical Greek drama and poetry tend to be guided by rather different considerations: The translator's audience may consist of fellow scholars, reluctant undergraduate students, or an adventurous minority of the general public; and each of these groups will have particular demands. Too often work thus emerges which is precise but lifeless, or loosely interpreted to conform to the structures of 19th-century-style Anglo-American poetry, or so liberally seasoned with present-day colloquialisms as to jar the reader repeatedly out of the proper period and setting.

For the most part, Paul Roche navigates skilfully through these hazards in trying his hand at Sophocles's Oedipus trilogy, and has produced a rendition that is readable, yet preserves classical distinctiveness. Once or twice in the first play a turn of phrase does feel awkwardly modern, but such flashes are rare and soon either disappear or blend into the overall arc of the stories. That Roche is himself a poet clearly enriched the labour, and his reflections, in the Introduction, on the essence of poetry and the challenge of its transmission across lines of language, era, and culture border on the profound. '... Poetry lies somewhere between meaning and music, sense and sound ...,' he writes; and in this region he attempts to set Sophocles's work. He echoes the meter of the original without imitating it exactly, and preserves more of the Greek dramatic structure (complete with `strophes' and `antistrophes') than do many other translations available. Yet Roche remains mindful that this is also a PLAY, and manages the formalized dialogue with an eye (or ear) to the possibility of his version itself turning up on stage. He also provides an afterword outlining principles to guide such performance.

The reader of this translation whose only prior encounter with the Oedipus legend was some now-vaguely-remembered lesson in school, or perhaps Edith Hamilton's summary, may be surprised at how effectively one is drawn in. Roche, like Sophocles before him, succeeds in bringing the remote and legendary close enough to touch, while allowing it to remain sufficiently mysterious to stir the imagination.(less)

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Jul 26, 2011

Rachel M. rated it

· review of another edition

This book includes 3 plays written by Sophocles. However, the plays are not put in chronological order in this edition. Rather, they are placed in the order that they were originally written. In order to read these plays chronologically, one should read King Oidipous, Oidipous at Colonus, and then Antigone. These plays are pretty good. They didn't "wow" me, but that could be because I have either read some of these plays before or have heard versions of them in other places. Also, ther...more

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Jan 05, 2010

Lizza Chapey added it · review of another edition

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Your Name: Lizza Chapey
Date: 1/4/2010

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
king Oedipus- Oedipus- Creon – Jocasta- Teriesias - chorus
Antigone- Antigone- Creon- Haemon- Ismane- chorus
Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.):
- Play and tragedy

Setting: the setting was in Thebes

Action of the work or the sequence of ev...more

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Jan 05, 2010

Tiffany diaz rated it

· review of another edition

Tiffany Diaz
1/4/10

Main Characters in the Text:
Oedipus- The protagonist of Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus
Oedipus the king -Jocasta - Oedipus’s wife and mother, and Creon’s sister.
Oedipus the king, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone- Creon - Oedipus’s brother-in-law
Oedipus the king, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone- Antigone - Child of Oedipus and Jocasta
Oedipus the king, Antigone-Tiresias - the blind seer of Thebes

Genre of the work (play...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Mikaela Fitzwilliam added it · review of another edition

TOPICS TO COVER:

Your Name: Mikaela Fitzwilliam
Date: 1/4/10

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):Oedipus the King: Oedipus, Creon,Jocasta, Teiresias, Chorus
Antigone:
Antigone
Ismane
Creon
Chorus
Heamon
Teiresias
Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): Play - tragedy

Setting: Thebes

Action of the work or the sequen...more

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Jan 05, 2010

Jessica added it · review of another edition

TOPICS TO COVER:

Your Name: Jessica Ciaccia
Date: January 4, 2010

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
Oedipus the King:
-Oedipus
-Jocasta
-Creon
-Teiresias
-Chorus
Antigone:
-Ismene
-Antigone
-Haemon
-Creon
-Teiresias
-Chorus

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): play and tragedy

Setting: Theb...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Bella rated it

· review of another edition

TOPICS TO COVER:

Your Name: Bella Mazzola
Date: January 4, 2010

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
Oedipus the King- Oedipus, Jocasta, Creon, Teiresias, Chorus
Antigone- Antigone, Haemon, Creon, Ismene, Chorus

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.): Play/ Tragedy

Setting: Thebes, Greece

Action of the work or the sequence of events (if...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Alison rated it

· review of another edition

TOPICS TO COVER:

Your Name: Alison Breitenbach
Date: January 4, 2010

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
-Oedipus
-Jocasta
-Creon
-Tireasis
-Chorus

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.):
-play and tragedy

Setting:
- In Thebes 496-406B.C

Action of the work or the sequence of events (if there are multiple works...more

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Jan 04, 2010

Ana Lo added it · review of another edition

TOPICS TO COVER:
King Oedipus
Antigone

Your Name: Ana Lo
Date: 1/04/10

Main Characters in the Text (if there are multiple works within one text, name the work, followed by the characters):
• King Oedipus
o Oedipus
o Jocosta
o Teiresias
o Creon
o The Chorus
• Anigone
o Antigone
o Creon
o Ismene
o Haemon

Genre of the work (play, novel, poem, etc.):
- A Play

Setting:
- The Cit...more

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Nov 09, 2009

Sam rated it

· review of another edition

This is the first book in David and my three book reading program on Greek history and culture. We decided to read three books about the same time period in ancient Greece. We are focusing on how the Greeks explained human behavior. This was a great book to start with. It has a decent explanation of the Greek plays and where they came from and how they operated and who attended and etc. This was very useful, but in this version could have been a little better with more analysis on the cultural i...more

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Dec 26, 2011

Antony Millen rated it

· review of another edition

There's something rotten in the city-state of Thebes.

I read this "trilogy" of plays over several years from the end of high school to the end of university. I studied "Antigone" in Grade 12, then "Oedipus the King" as part of a classics English course and "Oedipus at Colonus" as part of a Philosophy and Literature course. I have always employed the story of "Oedipus the King" and some of Aristotle's commentary on it as part of my teac...more

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Mar 16, 2010

Jamillah rated it

· review of another edition

In Sophocles edition of Oedipus, he portrayed Oedipus as a man who prided himself as the most rational and intelligent man in Thebes, who really is a mad man deep down inside who is halted by his three essential flaws of hubris, rage, and madness on his search for truth and the journey to discover his true self. Although Oedipus believes that he is most rational man in Thebes, he cannot see what is right in front of him. There are many ironic instances where Oedipus makes jokes about the murder ...moreIn Sophocles edition of Oedipus, he portrayed Oedipus as a man who prided himself as the most rational and intelligent man in Thebes, who really is a mad man deep down inside who is halted by his three essential flaws of hubris, rage, and madness on his search for truth and the journey to discover his true self. Although Oedipus believes that he is most rational man in Thebes, he cannot see what is right in front of him. There are many ironic instances where Oedipus makes jokes about the murder of Lauis stating fact but not realizing he is. Oedipus mirrors Terisias in the play, although you cannot make the connection visually. Oedipus appears to be this strong intelligent man, while on the other hand Terisias is portrayed as a blind and crippled elderly man. The major difference between the two characters is that Terisias knows and fully understands the truth. In contrast Oedipus does not understand the truth even when it is told to him. Throughout Oedipus’ search for the truth about the murder of Lauis, he had to also go on a journey to discover his true self. Oedipus believes he knows everything about himself and thinks that he is the great seeker of truth. However, Sophocles’ belief is that you never really know you true self completely. He believes that everyone’s purpose and goal in life should be to discover all that you can about yourself. He also believes in contrary to Oedipus’ belief that you cannot exceed your limits and that should try to live your life to the fullest and reach your peak without trying to cross the line. If you cross the line you are then putting yourself amongst the gods. Because of Oedipus’ foolish beliefs, he had to find the truth out the hard way, thus leading to his three major flaws of hubris, rage, and madness. Oedipus takes hubris to another level by elevating himself on a pedestal among the gods. He even goes as far as thinking he could outsmart the gods, which ultimately is madness. He also believes that he is the ultimate seeker of truth which causes madness because Oedipus is only human and human beings cannot know the truth but can only go on faith. Unfortunately Oedipus does not understand that he has hubris, so it progresses more and more throughout which leads to more and more madness. Oedipus also lets his rage get in the way on his journey to the truth. There are many people in the play that comes along and tries to tell Oedipus a portion of the truth. Instead of taking what everyone told him into consideration, Oedipus lets rage take over him and threatens to kill each person that tries to give him the truth, and even goes as far as blaming them for the murder of Lauis.

Oedipus believes his the most rational man in Thebes, and the ultimate detective, however he is truly an irrational man who lets his hubris get in the way of him seeing and understanding what is right in front of him, making his discovery of the truth a prolonged journey that will have a lasting effect on him. Oedipus is much different the rest of the people in Thebes. He believes he is the ultimate seeker of truth. When the question arises of who murdered Lauis, Oedipus becomes obsessed to find his murderer. He tells the people of Thebes that Lauis’ murderer will be punished when found almost as if he was god. Although Oedipus thinks he is the ultimate rational truth seeker and that he will find the murdrer of Lauis, he really is an irrational man that does not see the facts that are lying right in front of his face. Irony is a big part of Oedipus’ search of the truth. There are many ironic instances where Oedipus would speak a portion of the truth not knowing it. For example, In the play Oedipus says that he will search for the murderer of Lauis as if he was my own father not actually realizing that Lauis is really his father. Oedipus’ hubris plays a major part in prolonging his journey to the truth. There is a quote that explains Oedipus’ hubris in every detail: “Once we have learnt one thing, we may learn the rest. This is the beginning of other hopes.”. The basic understanding of this quote is that first you find one truth you will then find another truth and that pattern goes on almost like a domino effect. In the play, Oedipus unknowingly mirrors Terisias. Although you cannot not make the connection physically, deep down inside they are basically just alike. However, the central difference between the two is that Terisias knows and completely understand the truth. On the other hand, Oedipus can not see the truth when it is right in front of him. Oedipus believes that searching for the truth is a good thing and that it will set you free but he does not understand the consequences of it. Terisias on the other hand has a deeper understanding of the truth. Terisias’ beliefs can be supported by his quote: “When truth cannot help the man who knows it, then it brings terror”, which is one of the most important quotes throughout the whole play. Terisias knows that if you find the wrong truth, it will completely destroy you and that it could be so overwhelming that it destroys your sanity. You could also rationalize this statement by the word “terror” alone, which essential is another synonym for madness. Terisias contradicts every single belief of Oedipus’. Terisias know that the truth does not just answer questions, he also knows that you have to learn to live with the truth and that it could be a life long process. Oedipus’ character at the end of the play also can be compared with the historical reference of the scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who helped to develop atomic power. Like Oedipus, Oppenheimer was terrified by what he had done by helping to develop atomic power. Oedipus and Oppenheimer both where terrified and scorned about what they possibly have did to the world. They both were scarred by their acts in the end.

Oedipus’ believes that he is the ultimate truth seeker and the most rational man in Thebes elevating himself with the gods, when in fact Oedipus is quite irrational and has to go on a journey to discover his true self as fully as he possibly can. Oedipus believes he is a computer or a calm man of reason. He also thinks he is the Sherlock Holmes of his age. He thinks he know everything about himself, when in fact there is much more about himself that he needs to learn. On the contrary, Sophocles believes that your goal and purpose in life should be to find out as much about yourself as you possibly can. He believes that you should try to reach your peak in life but not to exceed your limits, because then you are placing yourself on a pedestal with the gods. Sophocles knows that if you think you can be amongst the gods, you are nothing but a mad man. The central irony of the play is that Oedipus thinks he is a computer and he has a lot of reasoning skills. He is the epitome of irrationality. Oedipus does have intelligence but some times he takes reasoning to another level. Oedipus can be seen as a lunatic who is lacking wisdom. He has trouble seeing and excepting human limits. Oedipus believes that he can place limits on his self, which is a complete act of madness. Oedipus does not understand that the limits are already there. Oedipus does not know his emotional inner self. When he makes his speech to Terisias, the underlying meaning is in the subtext. Oedipus is not intentionally hiding it, but in fact it it hidden from himself. Oedipus does not understand the turmoil and he thinks that he is going to make a calm speech and then his rage, hubris, and madness comes out. Oedipus will eventually have to discover his true self the hard way, when it is too hard to bare. Terisias is scene two is just another version of Oedipus’ character in scence six at the end of the play.

Oedipus has three essential flaws that interrupts his search for the truth and his journey to discovery and understanding of his true self which is his hubris, which he takes to another level elevating himself amongst the gods, his rage that drives away every person who tries to tell him a portion of the truth, and the madness that is caused by all of Oedipus’ actions. Oedipus’ hubris goes beyond the unthinkable. He believes that he is above the people of Thebes, which ultimately means he thinks he is as great as the gods. The first example of Oedipus’ hubris is in the beginning of the play, where he uses an over kill repetition of first person references. For instances he refer to the people of Thebes as “my children”. His hubris has blinded him to the dividing line between man and God. Another example of Oedipus’ hubris would be his contact with the Riddle of the Sphinx. Oedipus believes that he is so smart that he can outwit the gods. Oedipus comes up with the answer however he does not answer the riddle with full understanding. Oedipus’ answer to the riddle is man, however any man that fully understood the riddle would have answered “me”. Another quote that explains Oedipus hubris is; “What ever you ask will be done…”. A statement like that is God-language, which implies that Oedipus is greater then human beings, which is complete nonsense. Oedipus also makes a quote stating: “My mind has broken free from the shackles and soared above”. Oedipus believes that his intelligence is so powerful that he basically is putting himself on a pedestal looking down on the people of Thebes. Oedipus believes that his power and words are supreme which is complete madness because humans are never supreme. Overall Oedipus believes he is this great and rational man, he really is irrational because he is not smart enough to use his intelligence and to make sense of things. Instead of coming to terms with being human and understanding that human beings have limits and that we should not exceed them. Thus Oedipus is trying to usurp the power of the gods without knowing it.

Oedipus thinks he is a calm man of reason, which is completely the opposite of Oedipus true character inside, which is full or rage which causes him to respond negatively to the people who try to tell him the truth about who he really is, and the murder of Lauis, and eventually leads to madness. Before the play is even started you know that Oedipus is full of rage just by the murder of Lauis. Another way to understand Oedipus’ rage is by analyzing the quote: “A sentence holds no terror for the man who is not afraid to kill”. This is another instance where Oedipus is showing his rage while also usurping the power of the gods, because only the gods can decide life or death for some one. It is also ironic because Oedipus is describing himself and even goes as far as saying I bet the murderer is like me. Another example of Oedipus’ rage is his speech to Terisias. On the surface Oedipus is welcoming Terisias as a hero, and that he will save the people of Thebes. However Oedipus is really enraged inside and believes that the words he speaks of Terisias really only fit himself. There is agon or internal conflict with the speech. Oedipus is just sarcastic thoughout the whole thing and believes that if Terisias knows everything, he would know why they called him to Thebes. Oedipus’ rage and his hubris ultimately lead to madness. The madness begins in the beginning of the play when the people of Thebes need the Riddle of the Sphinx to be answered. The people of Thebes are scared and terrified about what the Sphinx might cause. Oedipus on the other hand has an attitude where he basically believes so what people are dying, there is a mystery to be solved. This is completely madness on Oedipus’ part. The quote: “ A sentence holds no terror for the man who is not afraid”, can also be seen as madness because only a mad man would think that he could dish out punishments as if he were a god. Oedipus’ madness also shows through his hubris throughout the play. Oedipus believes that he is elevated above the people of Thebes, which ultimately makes him believes that he on a level with the gods. He even goes as far as to thinking he could outwit them, which is completely blasphemous. Oedipus believes that he has outsmarted the gods not once but twice, first by avoiding the prophecy of him killing his father and marrying his mother, and then by solving the riddle of the Sphinx. When in fact, there is no one way to outsmart the gods. All of these acts are complete acts of madness.

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Sep 17, 2011

Kaion rated it

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Shelves: translated, drama

Thematically, I don't have tons to add that I didn't already say about Oedipus Rex on its own (which I read the Bernard Knox version a few years ago), which basically boiled down to that I'm on the 'oracles speak the truth, they don't make it' side of the argument. And the only other Greek play I think I've read was Aristophanes's The Clouds, so I feel sufficiently uneducated as how to judge these. So just general comments on the other two plays (this time I read Paul Roche*'s version of all thr...moreThematically, I don't have tons to add that I didn't already say about Oedipus Rex on its own (which I read the Bernard Knox version a few years ago), which basically boiled down to that I'm on the 'oracles speak the truth, they don't make it' side of the argument. And the only other Greek play I think I've read was Aristophanes's The Clouds, so I feel sufficiently uneducated as how to judge these. So just general comments on the other two plays (this time I read Paul Roche*'s version of all three):

Oedipus at Colonius, written near the end of Sophocles's life, sort of serves as the unnecessary midquel here, sandwiched between the sweeping dramatics of the other two plays. I do find Oedipus's old age here, his regrets and mellowing-out and still yet, his pride more emotionally afffecting here than in Oedipus Rex. Perhaps this has to do with the more naturalistic turn of phrase here (and mayhaps that lies in Paul Roche's translation) though characters do happen to have actual back and forth conversations, which is lacking in the taut Rex. Other than providing a smoother transition between the strange waffly ending of Rex and setting the context for Antigone, however, there's not really enough story to hold up an entire play (see how uselessly the chorus appears because there's nothing for it to actually comment on).

I do think Oedipus's absolution is quite a bit of a cheat, especially since he remains pretty whiny, and it has an unnecessary (and distracting) sense of the divine that is absent in the other two plays, which is part of what makes them realistic. It's realistic, powerfully so, that the characters, despite constantly attributing events to gods, do not know the will of such (and in fact make their most heinous mistakes when they do so in the name of knowing the will of the gods), and in fact, do not know if the gods are affecting events at all. Look no further than in the last play, in which Creon continues bemoaning his "fate" after having seen the error of his ways (and rushing to free Antigone)-- maybe he does so out of habit or because calling it "choice" is so much more cruel.

In Antigone, the main character herself a little too virtuous and her right (to bury her dead brother) a little too obviously noble for to make the drama all that conflictful. Obviously Creon so very wrong here (a ruler serves the good of people and showing mercy will only win him further support, blah blah he has nothing to fear a dead and defeated man), though there is some interest in the semi-feminist leanings of the some of the dialogue. I do think the story here is more character-driven than the archetypal-driven Rex, and that is a different strength (and makes it easier to adapt to modern contexts)... For one, there are some emotional turns here that are pretty poignant, including but not limited to Ismene's ambivalence but ultimate support of Antigone (and Antigone's rejection of her support) and Haemon's failed attempt to change his father's mind (as Haemon's appeals go from sweet to desperate).

*Re: Rereading Oedipus Rex, I did find Sophocles's use of irony really overbearing. Don't know why I didn't notice it before, but maybe it's one of those things that really sticks out once you're already primed to the shock and flash of the first reading. In that sense, Antigone is a better rounded play.
** Re: Paul Roche's translation, I don't read any Greek. I did sort of miss translator footnotes, though having them absent did make me pay attention to the actual work, submerge myself in it, and actually use my brain. I do think Roche overharps on the importance of the poetic line in his translator manifesto at the end, and sometimes the awkward high-faluting poetic language gets the best of him, particular in the chorus parts. I will probably read other translations in the future, but am not much inclined (or capable) or comparing their worth except in the coursest manner. I think I'd enjoy a even more relaxed, flowing translation of them. I've been proselytized Fagles/Knox and Bagg/Scully, but that won't be for a while likely. Reading too much tragedy at once seems to skew reality.(less)

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About Sophocles

Sophocles was an ancient Greek tragedy playwright. Not many things are known about his life other than that he was wealthy, well educated and wrote about one hundred and twenty three plays (of which few are extant). One of his best known plays is 'Oedipus the King' (Oedipus Rex).

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Three Tragedies: Antigone / Oedipus the King / Electra

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Trivia About The Theban Plays ...

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Quotes from The Theban Plays Of So...

“I will go, once I have said what I came here to say.
I will never shrink from the anger in your eyes-
you can't destroy me. Listen to me closely:
the man you have sought for so long, proclaiming,
cursing up and down, the murderer of Laius-
he is here. A stranger,
you may think, who lives among you,
he soon will be revealed a native Theban
but he will take no joy in the revelation.
Blind who now has eyes, beggar who now is rich,
he will grope his way toward a foreign soil,
A stick tapping before him step by step.
Revealed at last, brother and father both
to the children he embraces, to his mother
son and husband both - he sowed the loins
his father sowed, he spilled his father's blood!

Go in and reflect on that, solve that.
And if you find I've lied
from this day onward call the prophet blind.” — 3 people liked it

“You are the king no doubt, but in one respect,
at least, I am your equal: the right to reply.
I claim that privilege too.
I am not your slave. I serve Apollo.
I don't need Creon to speak for me in public.

So,
you mock my blindness? Let me tell you this.
You with your precious eyes,
you're blind to the corruption in your life,
to the house you live in, those you live with-
who are your parents? Do you know? All unknowing
you are the scourge of your own flesh and blood,
the dead below the earth and the living here above,
and the double lash of your mother and your father's curse
will whip you from this land one day, their footfall
treading you down in terror, darkness shrouding
your eyes that now can see the light!

Soon, soon,
you'll scream aloud - what haven won't reverberate?
What rock of Cithaeron won't scream back in echo?
That day you learn the truth about your marriage,
the wedding-march that sang you into your halls,
the lusty voyage home to the fatal harbor!
And a crowd of other horrors you'd never dream
will level you with yourself and all your children.

There. Now smear us with insults - Creon, myself
and every word I've said. No man will ever
be rooted from the earth as brutally as you.” — 3 people liked it

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