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The Theban Plays

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Theban Plays by Sophocles is a trilogy of ancient Greek tragedies that explores themes of fate, family, and power. The narrative follows King Oedipus as he uncovers dark truths about his lineage, Queen Jocasta's struggles with prophecy, and Antigone's defiance against royal edicts. Each play examines the consequences of human flaws and the inevitable grip of destiny.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$1999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

These classic Greek tragedies captivate with themes of fate, loyalty, and moral conflict. You might enjoy this work if you have an interest in ancient literature, dramatic storytelling, or exploring profound philosophical questions about human existence and destiny.

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Presents tales such as "King Oedipus", "Oedipus at Colonus", and "Antigone".

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The legends surrounding the royal house of Thebes inspired Sophocles (496-406 BC) to create a powerful trilogy about mankind's struggle against fate.

King Oedipus tells of a man who brings pestilence to Thebes for crimes he does not realise he has committed and who then inflicts a brutal punishment upon himself. With profound insights into the human condition, it is a devastating portrayal of a ruler brought down by his own oath.

Oedipus at Colonus provides a fitting conclusion to the life of the aged and blinded king, while Antigone depicts the fall of the next generation, through the conflict between a young woman ruled by her conscience and a king too confident of his own authority.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Theban Plays, encompassing Sophocles' most famous dramas, is highly praised in the reviewed introduction as a quintessential example of Greek tragedy. Aristotle admired it as an ideal model of tragic structure, while Freud noted its compelling portrayal of self-discovery. The review appreciates how Sophocles orchestrates Oedipus's journey of piecing together his identity and confronting his newfound self-awareness.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780140440034

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 April 1973

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by E. Watling
  • Translated by E. Watling

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 11.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 135g

Pages: 176

About the Author

Sophocles was born in 496 BC. His long life spanned the rise and decline of the Athenian Empire. He wrote over a hundred plays, many of which are published as Penguin Classics, drawing on a wide and varied range of themes. E.F. Watling translated a range of Greek and Roman plays for Penguin, including the seven plays of Sophocles and the tragedies of Seneca.

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