Books for/about - Antigone

Publisher: Penguin Classics
Authors: Sophocles Robert Fagles Bernard MacGregor Walke Knox

ISBN: 0140444254
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 4
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Summary: Excellent But Not The Best; 4.5 Stars
This is a fine translation of Sophocles' great Oedipus trilogy. Fagles has rendered these plays into fluent English with a fine feel for how to vary the nature of the language between characters and scenes. That said, I still prefer the older Fitts/Fitzgerald translations, which are a model of restrained but powerful poetic expression. I think Fagles' translations of Homer are the finest available but he has not done quite as well with these plays. A very nice feature of this edition are the fine introductions to the plays and a short discussion of the history of the texts.

Summary: Translations
Researching translations is never an easy task, and in this case, where you'll have to search on Amazon for the title and the translator to find what you want, it's particularly difficult.

Here's what I've found by comparing several editions:

1. David Grene translation: Seems to be accurate, yet not unwieldy as such. My pick. Language is used precisely, but not to the point where it's barely in English.

2. Fitts/Fitzgerald translation: Excellent as well, though a little less smooth than the Grene one. Certainly not a bad pick.

3. Fagles translation: Beautiful. Not accurate. If you are looking for the smoothest English version, there's no doubt that this is it. That said, because he is looser with the translation, some ideas might be lost. For instance, in Antigone, in the beginning, Antigone discusses how law compels her to bury her brother despite Creon's edict. In Fagles, the "law" concept is lost in "military honors" when discussing the burial of Eteocles. This whole notion of obeying positive law or natural law is very important, but you wouldn't know it from Fagles. In Grene, for example, it is translated to "lawful rites."

4. Gibbons and Segal: Looks great, but right now the book has only Antigone (and not the rest of the trilogy) and costs almost 3x as much. I'll pass. But, from a cursory review, I'm impressed with their work.

5. MacDonald: This edition received some good write-ups, but I wasn't able to do a direct passage-to-passage comparison.

6. Woodruff: NO, NO, NO. Just NO. It's so colloquial it makes me gag. Very accessible, but the modernization of the language is just so extreme as to make it almost laughable. You don't get any sense of the power of language in the play. You just get the story. If you want this to be an easy read, then get Fagles, not this.

7. Kitto: Looks good, though not particularly compelling over either Grene or Fitzgerald (or Gibbons if I wanted to pay so much more).

8. Roche: Practically unreadable the English is so convoluted. Might be the most literal translation, but what's the point unless you are learning Greek and want such a direct translation.

9. Taylor: Way too wordy. Might be more literal, but again, why?

Hope this all helps. Translations can make or break the accessibility of literature. Pick wisely.

Summary: Great plays, very good translation, but...
There's not much to say about these plays that hasn't been said over the last 2,500 years except, read them. More than once. More than twice.

As to the Fagles translation, as with most of his translations it is very smooth, almost lyrical, quite appealing. But he takes more liberties than I really like a translator to take. You are not reading as close as possible a rendition of what Sophocles actually wrote; rather, Fagles is somewhere between translation and retelling. For the average reader this may be fine, but don't think you're getting pure Sophocles, or as pure as is possible with a translation.

If all you want is an enjoyable read that is reasonably close to what Sophocles wrote, Fagles is fine. For more scholarly accuracy, try the translations by Greene, Fitzgerald, or Wyckoff. For a very good set of alternate translations which have as much fluidity as Fagles and a bit more faithfulness to the original, try the Fitts/Fitzgerald translations.

One benefit to the Fagles translation is the introductions by Knox, which are excellent (nearly as good as his superb introduction to Fagles' Odyssey).

One detriment, for me, is that the volume presents the plays in the order they were written, not in the order of the (relatively) unified story which they present. (It's sort of like reading Shakespeare's Henry VI plays before his Henry IV and V plays; that's the order he wrote them in, but the Henry V and VI plays make more sense if you've read the Henry IV plays first.) I accept that Sophocles didn't write these as a trilogy (as many Greek play sets were), but still, I think for the reader previously unfamiliar with them or their history and simply reading them in the order presented (perhaps a reader who doesn't start by reading all the introductions, but plunges straight into the plays), I think it's a bad decision.

All in all, a fine choice of a translation, but not the only fine choice. But definitely read these plays, choosing whatever translation you prefer (unless, of course, you can read them in the original Greek!)

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Antigone, Oedipus the King, Electra (Oxford World's Classics)

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Authors: Sophocles Edith Hall H. D. F. Kitto

ISBN: 0192835882
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 5
Reviews:
Summary: Translations
Researching translations is never an easy task, and in this case, where you'll have to search on Amazon for the title and the translator to find what you want, it's particularly difficult.

Here's what I've found by comparing several editions:

1. David Grene translation: Seems to be accurate, yet not unwieldy as such. My pick. Language is used precisely, but not to the point where it's barely in English.

2. Fitts/Fitzgerald translation: Excellent as well, though a little less smooth than the Grene one. Certainly not a bad pick.

3. Fagles translation: Beautiful. Not accurate. If you are looking for the smoothest English version, there's no doubt that this is it. That said, because he is looser with the translation, some ideas might be lost. For instance, in Antigone, in the beginning, Antigone discusses how law compels her to bury her brother despite Creon's edict. In Fagles, the "law" concept is lost in "military honors" when discussing the burial of Eteocles. This whole notion of obeying positive law or natural law is very important, but you wouldn't know it from Fagles. In Grene, for example, it is translated to "lawful rites."

4. Gibbons and Segal: Looks great, but right now the book has only Antigone (and not the rest of the trilogy) and costs almost 3x as much. I'll pass. But, from a cursory review, I'm impressed with their work.

5. MacDonald: This edition received some good write-ups, but I wasn't able to do a direct passage-to-passage comparison.

6. Woodruff: NO, NO, NO. Just NO. It's so colloquial it makes me gag. Very accessible, but the modernization of the language is just so extreme as to make it almost laughable. You don't get any sense of the power of language in the play. You just get the story. If you want this to be an easy read, then get Fagles, not this.

7. Kitto: Looks good, though not particularly compelling over either Grene or Fitzgerald (or Gibbons if I wanted to pay so much more).

8. Roche: Practically unreadable the English is so convoluted. Might be the most literal translation, but what's the point unless you are learning Greek and want such a direct translation.

9. Taylor: Way too wordy. Might be more literal, but again, why?

Hope this all helps. Translations can make or break the accessibility of literature. Pick wisely.

Summary: Antigone, Oedipus the King, Electra (Oxford World's Classics)
Did not look like it was in new condition.

Summary: great translation
As a Classics major, I've had to read these plays countless times. Last semester, I picked up this book while writing a paper on Electra, and I fell in love with it. The text that I had previously admired for its ideas I now respected as a work of art. Kitto's words bring a life and humanity to the text that other translations lack. It was like reading the plays again for the first time.

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Sophocles, The Oedipus Cycle: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone

Publisher: Harvest/HBJ Book
Authors: Sophocles

ISBN: 015602764X
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 5
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Summary: Founding fathers
There is sickness in the kingdom. Oedipus learns that it is necessary to take revenge upon the murderer of Laios. Teiresias does not want to tell what he knows. He is then goaded into telling Oedipus that he is the cause of the pollution. Oedipus suspects that his brother-in-law Creon wishes to drive him from Thebes.

Oedipus grew up in Corinth where a drunken man at a feast called out he was not his father's son. Oedipus consulted the oracle at Delphi. He was told he would murder his father and marry his mother. He fled Corinth. He wanted to escape his fate. Oedipus is concerned to learn that Laios was killed at a crossroads. An eye witness to the crime is sought. In the meantime it is learned that the King of Corinth has died of old age. A messenger explains, though, that Polybos of Corinth was not Oedipus's father.

The messenger, a shepherd, had saved Oedipus when he was a baby from death by exposure. Another shepherd had a larger role in Oedipus's survival. The second man, the slave of Laios, affirmed that he gave the man a child from the house of Laios. It is determined that Oedipus was the child. He has now killed his father and married his mother. A messenger brings news that Iocaste has killed herself. Oedipus takes out his eyes and orders that he be led into self-exile. Oedipus leaves his daughters in the care of Creon.

In OEDIPUS AT COLONUS Oedipus and Antigone end up in an inviolate thicket near Athens. They are joined by Ismene. It is learned Oedipus's sons are vying for the throne at Thebes. The ruler of Athens, Theseus, addresses Oedipus. He is inclined to be hospitable. Ismene is taken and Creon has Antigone dragged away by his soldiers. The purpose of taking the children is to induce Oedipus to return to Thebes to die. Theseus seizes Creon and demands the release of the girls. Oedipus is then reunited with his daughters. His death does not take place in Thebes.

Summary: A powerful and moving piece!
~I had to read OEDIPUS REX for my pre-IB sophomore English class, feeling not too happy with another dull, lengthy Greek play (we had to read THE ODYSSEY last year, and it got really redundant). But Sophocles' play...wow, it's totally different! The characters are so much more real and the speeches are deep and engrossing. Thebes is fascinating, substantial - and the issues grip you unknowingly. ...When you finally resurface, you feel touched and bewildered at the same time!

Throughout

Summary: Great Plays - Great Translations
First of all, I must say that this is the only translation of the Oedipus cycle that I have read. However, I have read translations of other Greek epics and plays in popular editions, and have found this to be the most readable of them by far.

The plays of the Oedipus cycle have been central to western literature ever since Aristotle based his theory of poetics upon Oedipus Tyrannus. The plots of the plays are quite well structured. Of course, if you don't like tragedy, you probably won't like this book either.

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Antigone (Dover Thrift Editions)

Publisher: Dover Publications
Authors: Sophocles

ISBN: 0486278042
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Summary: Reviewing "Antigone"
I do believe I have become a true fan of the old Greek classics (and I am inspired to seek out classic Greek plays). "Antigone" is an excellent read, entertaining, and gives a detailed account into the lives and personalities of the daughters of Oedipus, expecially Antigone. Antigone, as portrayed in "Oedipus Rex" is a child who weeps for her parents, her brothers, and her country after the unfolding of tragic events. In "Antigone" she's up close and personal as a young woman brave and daring. She is willing to risk her life to defend what remains of family honor.

Summary: "Individual versus State", "Conscience versus Law", "Divine Law versus Human Law" = this play
"Antigone" (441 BC), written by Sophocles, is a very old and well-known play. It is a tragedy, because in the end things go wrong for nearly every everyone. I say nearly for everybody because if you pay attention when you read this book, you will have enjoyed a good play, and appreciated the various themes the author tackles in it. So, in that case, things won't go wrong for you :)

The plot is not complicated. Creon is a king, and Antigone is his niece. Creon orders that Antigone's brother, recently killed, must remain without sepulture, due to the fact that he was a traitor. The punishment for anybody who defies his orders will be death. Despite knowing that, Antigone cannot help but think her duty forces her to give sepulture to her brother, and in the end does exactly that. Alas, she is discovered, and of course everything goes downhill from that moment onwards.

Several dichotomies are defined in the play, the main ones being "Individual versus State" (that is, Antigone versus Creon), "Conscience versus Law" (that is, Antigone following her conscience even though she know she doesn't respect the law) and "Divine Law versus Human Law". Antigone and Creon defend what each of them considers to be right, the first one justice, and the other one the law of the city. But which one has priority when they clash? And who should decide that?

All in all, I enjoyed this play. I read it at university some years ago, for History of Political ideas, as an introduction to Greek thought. The above mentioned themes are considered repeatedly by different Greek philosophers, but also by many other thinkers of different nationalities throughout time. Why did (and does) that happen? Read this play, and find your answer, or pose more questions. You won't be alone...

Belen Alcat

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The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone

Publisher: Plume
Authors: Sophocles Paul Roche

ISBN: 0452011671
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 2
Reviews:
Summary: Oedipus at Colonus
Oedipus at Colonus was a fairly good sequel to Oedipus the King. In this book Oedipus and one of his daughters go to Colonus the Gods sent sickness because he killed his father and then married his mother.

This book was a lot easier to read than I was expecting. Usually I have a tough time reading these old kind of plays but this one was written in such a way that I was able to understand it which was a plus. The whole plot is really good; Oedipus's sons are fighting over who gets to be king. If you read any of the previous stories of Oedipus you should know about the oracle. This is a wonderful element to these stories. When you hear the oracle's prediction you know that you should believe it because of what happen in the first story. Recomended for ages 15 and older.

Summary: Between Meaning and Music
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 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.

Summary: A good compromise between authenticity and accessibility
Roche has worked very hard at reproducing the feel of the original text by Sophocles, and by all accounts he has succeeded admirably. In his introduction, Roche goes on at length to explain why a strictly literal translation is not always the best course; he has done what he can to capture the essence of the original poetry, sometimes sacrificing a more literal translation.

That being said, this trilogy of tragedy remains inaccessible to the casual reader, with the verse, antiquated phrases, and lengthy unnatural monologues and speeches combining to obscure the beautiful and tragic story from the mind and heart of what might otherwise be an appreciative audience.

So where does this leave us? Did Roche waste his time by coming up with a version of the play that is neither authentic nor accessible? In my opinion, he did not. This book is an invaluable asset for intermediary scholars who are not ready (and may never be ready) to apply themselves to the actual text or a literal translation, and yet are willing to devote themselves to overcoming the obstacles that the non-traditional (by modern standards) format presents.

An english student, or an armchair literary enthusiast, will find this an excellent way to experience the power of Sophocles writing in english. The translation is beautiful, and powerful, and does indeed bring one of the most tragic and deeply resonating of stories to life; you just have to work a little to get there.

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	Antigone Publisher: A & C Black Authors: Jean Anouilh
ISBN: 0413695409 List Price: $12.95 Amazon Price: $9.97 Usually ships in 24 hours Buy this book from amazon.com or from amazon.co.uk	Avg Cusomer Rating: 4 Reviews: Summary: Antigone by Anilouth This is a modern version of Antigone that helps students relate the themes of the original version to modern times. The concepts of a higher law than man's is certainly expressed, but more importantly, the determination of the few and the role of Haemon are stressed. This is an excellent piece for an Advanced Placement class to use after reading both OEDIPUS AND ANTIGONE BY SOPHOCLES. Summary: Antigone Anoulih's version of Antigone was adapted for the time in which he lived. It contains hidden symbols to, at the time, both get the book past the censors and give the french audience moral and courage to stand up to the Nazi's and follow their beliefs. The characters are adapted slightly to fit his version, ie Tieresas is left out and a nurse is introduced. He also had to adapt the personalities of the characters, for instance Antigone develops a whiny habit, and Creon is seen as a "good guy". This was also done in order to get the play by the sensors. It is a well-written play with rounder characters than the original. This version would be better read after reading the original. Summary: It's my favorite book Ok, I'm french and I'm VERY surprised AMAZON sells some of our books... Anyway, Antigone is my favorite story, I'll read it everyday if I could. It makes me cry everytime and it's the coolest story about life. Summary:

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	Oedipus Trilogy (Cliffs Notes) Publisher: Cliffs Notes Authors: Charles Higgins Regina Higgins
ISBN: 0764585819 List Price: $5.99 Amazon Price: $5.99 Usually ships in 24 hours Buy this book from amazon.com or from amazon.co.uk	Avg Cusomer Rating: 5 Reviews: Summary: poet This is one of the most memorable plays I have read in my life. It has love, drama, incest and so on. It's so good that I hope to read it again and again. Summary: very good contains everything i needed for the book in english class, a must read if you are having trouble with the book Summary:

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Antigone (Greek Tragedy in New Translations)

Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Authors: Sophocles Reginald Gibbons Charles Segal

ISBN: 0195143736
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Summary: An impressive new translation of Sophocles' "Antigone"
Following the ending of "Oedipus the King," Oedipus was exiled from Thebes, blind and a beggar. We learn from "Oedipus at Colonus" that his sons, Eteocles and Polyneices engaged in a civil war for the throne of Thebes (covered in "Seven Against Thebes" by Aeschylus). The two brothers kill each other and Kreon, brother of Jocasta, becomes king. He orders that Eteocles, who nobly defended his city, shall receive an honorable burial, but that Polyneices, for leading the Argive invaders, shall be left unburied. This leads Antigone, sister to both of the slain brothers, to have to choose between obeying the rule of the state, the dictates of familial binds, and the will of the gods. This, of course, is the matter at the heart of this classic tragedy by Sophocles.

It is too easy to see the issues of this play, first performed in the 5th century B.C., as being reflected in a host of more contemporary concerns, where the conscience of the individual conflicts with the dictates of the state. However, it seems to me that the conflict in "Antigone" is not so clear-cut as we would suppose. After all, Kreon has the right to punish a traitor and to expect loyal citizens to obey. Ismene, Antigone's sister, chooses to obey, but Antigone takes a different path. The fact that the "burial" of her brother consists of the token gesture of throwing dirt upon his face, only serves to underscore the ambiguity of the situation Sophocles is developing since it essentially gives Kreon an out and a way of saving face. Even though the playwright strips Kreon of his son, Haemon and wife, Eurydice by the end of the drama, it is not a fatal verdict rendered against the king's judgment, but rather the playing out of the tragedy to its grim conclusion.

As part of the Greek Tragedy in New Translations series which seeks to bring the touch of the poet to the translation, this particular version is by Reginald Gibbons and Charles Segal. Gibbon's explanation of the translation is a fascinating discourse on what you would usually think of as being the dry work of translating a dusty Greek text into modern English. Not only are we treated to thoughts on the nuances of language and the practicality of using the Latin name for Oedipus, but there is a most compelling argument that the male actor who played Antigone could well have also played Haimon, Teiresias, and even Eurydike (since those characters never appear together on stage). This becomes of interest because clearly each character, in turn, tries in vain to dissuade Kreon from his course. Gibbons and Segal also develop stage directions, non-existent in the extant text, to give added weight to the dialogues. There is ample justification for adding this particular translation to your classical library, especially if you have cause to teach "Antigone."

Ultimately, Antigone is not the tragic hero in the play that bears her name, but rather Kreon and the great irony is that while he condemns Antigone for her "crime," he is guilty of a sin. As such "Antigone" addresses the clash of church and state long before any political principle was attached to their relationship. I would also add that I have always enjoyed Jean Anouilh's "modern" version of the play, produced in 1944 and loaded with overtones regarding the Nazi occupation of France. The two plays offer a fascinating analog and students are usually quick to appreciate how Anouilh revitalizes the ancient myth with the political situation in which he lived. Certainly students are better able to identify with Antigone and her story than most of the tragic heroes and their unhappy fates.

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