Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Genre: Drama, Tragedy, Classics, Greek Literature

Book Review :
This Penguin Classics volume brings together the three monumental tragedies of Sophocles that form the Theban cycle: King Oedipus, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. These plays, written in 5th century BC Athens, stand as some of the greatest works of dramatic literature ever created. King Oedipus is the quintessential Greek tragedy, a masterful detective story in which the king's relentless pursuit of justice for the murder of his predecessor leads him to a horrifying truth about his own identity. Oedipus at Colonus, written near the end of Sophocles' life, follows the blinded and exiled Oedipus as he finds a measure of peace and a mystical end. Antigone presents the powerful conflict between the laws of the state and the dictates of personal conscience, as Oedipus's daughter defies the king's decree to give her brother a proper burial. E.F. Watling's translation is clear, readable, and preserves the poetic power of the originals. This collection is an essential introduction to the timeless themes of fate, free will, justice, and the nature of the divine that continue to resonate with readers and audiences today.