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The Theban Plays: Introduction by Charles Segal (Everyman's Library Classics Series) Hardcover – October 18, 1994

by Sophocles (Author), James P. Hogan (Editor), David Grene (Translator),
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 143 ratings
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The legends surrounding Oedipus of Thebes and his ill-fated offspring provide the subject matter for Sophocles’ three greatest plays, which together represent Greek drama at the pinnacle of its achievement.

 

Oedipus the King, the most famous of the three, has been characterized by critics from Aristotle to Coleridge as the perfect exemplar of the art of tragedy, in its unforgettable portrayal of a man’s failed attempt to escape his fate. In Oedipus at Colonus, the blind king finds his final release from the sufferings the gods have brought upon him, and Antigone completes the downfall of the House of Cadmus through the actions of Oedipus’s magnificent and uncompromising daughter defending her ideals to the death. All three of The Theban Plays, while separate, self-contained dramas, draw from the same rich well of myth and showcase Sophocles’ enduring power. Translated by David Grene.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    280 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Everyman's Library
  4. Publication date
    October 18, 1994
  5. Dimensions
    5.24 x 0.85 x 8.38 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780679431329
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0679431329
  8. Lexile measure
    NP0L
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“[Oedipus the King] is Sophocles’ most famous play and the most celebrated play of Greek drama . . . Aristotle cites it as the best model for a tragic plot . . . Freud recognized the play’s power to dramatize the process by which we uncover hidden truths about ourselves . . . Sophocles is more interested in how Oedipus pieces together the isolated fragments of his past to discover who and what he is and in tracing the hero’s response to this new vision of himself.”—from the Introduction by Charles Segal

About the Author

Sophocles, the Greek tragic dramatist, was born at Colonus near Athens about 496 B.C. Although hopelessness and misfortune plague the characters in his great plays, Sophocles's own life was a long, prosperous one. He was from a good family, well educated, handsome, wealthy, healthy, and highly respected by his fellow Athenians. His first dramatic production, in 468, won the prize over Aeschylus's. He wrote two dozen more plays before 450, by which date he had made important changes in the form of tragedy by adding a third speaking actor to the traditional two, by reducing the importance of the chorus, and by improving the stage scenery. Sophocles wrote over 120 plays; seven complete plays survive (plus half a light satyr play, some fragments, and ninety titles). Aristotle, in his Poetics, praised Sophocles above other tragedians and regarded his masterpiece, Oedipus the King, as a model for Greek tragedy. Sophocles's plays won more victories than the plays of either his older contemporary Aeschylus or the younger Euripides. The circumstances of his life, as well as his plays, suggest that Sophocles was conservative, and opposed to innovation in religion and politics. At eighty-three he was still active in the Athenian government. He died in 406 B.C. in Athens at the age of ninety.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0679431322
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Everyman's Library; 51160th edition (October 18, 1994)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780679431329
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0679431329
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ NP0L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.24 x 0.85 x 8.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 143 ratings

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  1. Sophocles

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
143 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kat
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book and great condition all for a great deal!
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2014
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Great condition. Amazon has honestly never failed me with books. They are always in great condition unless otherwise noted. As a college student - I love notes in books, so I actually look for books that have been used versus buying new. It is as if I get to read the thought transformation of another student/reader! I love it. Anyways, this book had some notes in it, nothing too significant but I appreciated it. No bent corners and the pages were all in tact. The binding was secure as well.

There are always a couple things I check right away when I receive a book: binding, pagination, edition/copyright, and overall condition. I have never been disappointed with a book I've bought of Amazon.

I plan to buy every book I can off of Amazon for the rest of my undergraduate career and all throughout law school.
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CSNRFamily
5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING!!
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2014
Verified Purchase
I will be attending the 9th grade after summer and this was a mandatory book we had to read. Antigone kept me on the verge of my seat and was a constant page turner, filled with action,sorrow, and love. The book was difficult to read because of the way it was written, however when you read the pages over and do a deep cleaning of reading between the lines the story blooms into a motion picture. This book is great and I would recommend to read it at an early age due to the fact that during your education path this book will come up several times. :)
2 people found this helpful
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Monica Moore
4.0 out of 5 stars Will get the job done
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2019
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It was sold “used,” but I wasn’t expecting it to be in as bad shape as it was. Very yellow, curled pages
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J.K. Ridley
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2015
Verified Purchase
I had to read this book for my literature class an it was one of my favorite texts all year. The plays were so well written that it was easy to imagine the vivid scenes described in Sophocles tragedies. The depth of character was wonderful. My favorite of the three plays was the "Antigone" because it grappled with the questions of just laws and the priority of the laws of God over those of man. This book is great for teens and up, really great reading for a rainy day! :)
2 people found this helpful
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EnglishTeacher
5.0 out of 5 stars I like this translation as an English teacher
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2016
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I like this translation as an English teacher, but I thought it was a bit pricey for the three plays when you can get the same trilogy at other stores for less.
One person found this helpful
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Q
5.0 out of 5 stars Poetry.
Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2014
Verified Purchase
Kinda hard to write a review on a book.. But okay: I loved it. If you're a fan of reading the classics every now and then this is a great book to read.
One person found this helpful
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kd
4.0 out of 5 stars worn but good
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2013
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This was a very very worn looking book, however my son was still able to use it for school and it was less expensive than the school's prices.
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Top reviews from other countries

Christina Savio
5.0 out of 5 stars Good quality and worth of money.
Reviewed in India on September 26, 2021
Verified Purchase
Neat printing and paper quality is good. Those who love to read classic plays can go for it.
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Christina Savio
5.0 out of 5 stars Good quality and worth of money.
Reviewed in India on September 26, 2021
Neat printing and paper quality is good. Those who love to read classic plays can go for it.
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Patricia Grice
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly conceived tragedy
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2016
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Antigone is the most complete tragedy .The arguments in the play are relevant today.
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Paromita C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Worth buying alongside newer edition
Reviewed in India on March 10, 2020
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Top class, like all Penguins. . .this is an older edition, which I re-bought
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Pam
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent translation
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2012
Verified Purchase
I really like this version which I think is ideal for students at Advanced Level. It's readable but keeps the dignity of the original Greek.
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Jazz
4.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 10, 2020
Verified Purchase
Bought for my undergrad degree, arrived in good condition.
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