Tragedy and Civilization: An Interpretation of Sophocles

by Charles Segal

Drawing on comprehensive analyses of all of Sophocles’ plays, on structuralist anthropology, and on other extensive work on myth and tragedy, Charles Segal examines Sophocles both as a great dramatic poet and as a serious thinker. He shows how Sophoclean tragedy reflects the human condition in its constant and tragic struggle for order and civilized life against the ever-present threat of savagery and chaotic violence, both within society and within the individual. For this edition Segal also provides a new preface discussing recent developments in the study of Sophocles.

Genres: Tragedy, Philosophy, Criticism

506 pages, Paperback

First published June 3, 1981

About the author

Charles Paul Segal was an American classicist renowned for his application of critical theory to ancient texts. Although his work spanned a variety of Latin and Greek genres, he is best known for his work on Greek tragedy. His most influential work is Tragedy and Civilization: an Interpretation of Sophocles (1981), in which he presents a structuralist approach to Greek theatre.

Reviews

[Sananab · Rating 2 out of 5]

He has some interesting observations but he really drives his points home too hard. You could edit out 300 pages of this book without losing a thing.