Sophocles

The heroic Greek dramas that have moved theatergoers and readers since the fifth century B.C. Towering over the rest of Greek tragedy, the three plays that tell the story of the fated Theban royal family—Antigone, Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus—are among the most enduring and timeless dramas ever written. Robert Fagles's authoritative and acclaimed translation conveys all of Sophocles's lucidity and power: the cut and thrust of his dialogue, his ironic edge, the surge and majesty of his choruses and, above all, the agonies and triumphs of his characters. This Penguin Classics edition features an introduction and notes by the renowned classicist Bernard Knox. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Antigone; Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus

The Three Theban Plays

Peter Constantine

Pedro De Blas

The pinnacle of classical drama in Greece, the three-part, 2,500 year-old Oedipus cycle remains a touchstone of Western culture. Nearly perfect technically, the plays feature headstrong heroes, intense plots, and breathtaking imagery that have influenced generations of artists, philosophers, and statesmen. These fresh, historically faithful renditions by renowned translator Peter Constantine bring new life to civilization's most meaningful dramas. Rich in sex and violence, the plays follow the tragic downfall of King Oedipus, a man who mistakenly believes he can control his own destiny. In Oedipus the King, we watch as the hero learns the truth about his past, including his murder of his father, Laius, and marriage to his mother, Jocasta. Written just before the death of Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus features a more subdued tone as the blind, exiled king reflects on his passing from this world. Antigone, the earliest written of the three, presents the powerful story of the iron-willed daughter of Oedipus as she takes a fatal stand against her uncle Creon, the new ruler of Thebes. Favoring her own moral code to the dictates of an unjust ruler, Antigone becomes the first heroine in Western literature and a model of civil disobedience.

Three Theban Plays

Maureen

"Mortals cannot escape their destiny."

To say each play is a tragedy would be an understatement. Happy to have finally read the source of Freud's Oedipux complex. As always, the women of ancient Greek society were always belittled and disrespected by the men.

Detailed notes accompany modern translations of the stories of Oedipus, a king who is unable to escape his tragic fate and ends his days in exile

Antigone was the best play. The rest is just a bunch of men being dramatic and making long speeches.

Mari

enjoyed these greatly! Read the Storr translation for all three and also read the Woodruff translation of Antigone because it was my favourite.

Zeke Taylor

Milo Jean

Sometimes I’m not sure what to say about classics. I had always meant to get around to reading these and I’m so glad I did. I personally really enjoyed them and the way fate weaves its way through these characters lives. I went ahead and read them in the order the penguin classics edition had them in and all the introduction/background information as well and I felt that was really helpful to deepen my understanding of the plays. I liked them all so much, it’s hard to choose a favorite but I may be partial to Antigone.

Robert Fagles

Bernard MacGregor Walker Knox

Jasmine

A great pick for enriching oneself with golden age of Athens✨ Sophocles’s portrayal of Oedipus is parallel to the ideal trait of an Athenian if analysed. The plays are epic tragedies. One can never go wrong with classic literature ❤️. 

Rebekah Holland

I’ve always wanted to read more plays, especially Greek tragedy and the Three Theban Plays are a good place to start. The prophecies and grief that surround Oedipus are probably one of the more well known stories, and it was great to read more about his life and destiny after his exile. I would highly recommend for anyone who wants to know more in-depth knowledge about all the events that transpired.

Jeni Enjaian

I'll start this review by saying that I am definitely not the target audience. While I enjoy attending the occasional play and love Shakespeare, I find that reading most plays leaves something to be desired. That being said, I found this particular plays very limited in scope. Perhaps that's due to both the genre and the time in which they were written. The plot was incredibly easy to predict. (Although I suspect that even the mildest familiarity with Greek mythology will render the plots of these plays predictable.) It was a decent translation, fairly easy to read.

I would recommend this book to those who either love plays or want to read through the classics. (Of course, I also recommend it to people who want to do both.) If you're not a fan of either of those things, this book is probably not your cup of tea.

Draculelle

Niki Sotiropoulou-Nassika

The Three Theban Plays - Oedipus the King - Oedipus at Colonus - Antigone - Sophocles - The most famous tragedies of Sophocles feature Oedipus and also Antigone: they are generally known as the Theban plays, although each play was actually a part of a different tetralogy, the other members of which are now lost. Sophocles influenced the development of the drama, most importantly by adding a third actor, thereby reducing the importance of the chorus in the presentation of the plot. He also developed his characters to a greater extent than earlier playwrights such as Aeschylus. To Laius, King of Thebes, an oracle foretold that the child born to him by his queen Jocasta would slay his father and wed his mother. So when in time a son was born the infant's feet were riveted together and he was left to die on Mount Cithaeron. But a shepherd found the babe and tended him, and delivered him to another shepherd who took him to his master, the King of Corinth. Polybus being childless adopted the boy, who grew up believing that he was indeed the King's son. Afterwards doubting his parentage he inquired of the Delphic god and heard himself the word declared before to Laius. Wherefore he fled from what he deemed his father's house and in his flight he encountered and unwillingly slew his father Laius. Arriving at Thebes he answered the riddle of the Sphinx and the grateful Thebans made their deliverer king. So he reigned in the room of Laius, and espoused the widowed queen. Children were born to them and Thebes prospered under his rule, but again a grievous plague fell upon the city. Again the oracle was consulted and it bade them purge themselves of blood-guiltiness. Oedipus denounces the crime of which he is unaware, and undertakes to track out the criminal. Step by step it is brought home to him that he is the man. The closing scene reveals Jocasta slain by her own hand and Oedipus blinded by his own act and praying for death or exile.

Celestine Taevs-Nakaya

Paul Woodruff

Peter Meineck

This powerful new rendering of the plays of the Theban cycle includes, in addition to the translators' celebrated Oedipus Tyrannus, annotated new translations of Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus. Peter Meineck is Producing Artistic Director of The Aquila Theatre Co, Visiting Scholar at the Center for Ancient Studies, New York University and teacher of Greek Drama at the Tisch School for the Arts.

Theban Plays

Arron Kau

Gaurav Verma

Helene Utterback

baelgia

Kevin Bertolero

This elegant and uncommonly readable translation will make these seminal Greek tragedies accessible to a new generation of readers.

The Three Theban Plays Antigone; Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus

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