Greek Tragedies, Volume 3

by Sophocles, Aeschylus, Richard Edited By Green, David and Lattimore

Book Overview

In three paperback volumes, the Grene and Lattimore editions offer a selection of the most important and characteristic plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides from the nine-volume anthology of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0000CKM7X
• Release Date: January 1969
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Customer Reviews

Illuminating the Darkness

"The Greek Tragedies" is a compelling read. Translators Richmond Lattimore, David Grene, and William Arrowsmith bring the ancient world to life. Lattimore, whose translation of The Iliad of Homer (translated and introduction by Richmond Lattimore is one of the authoritative, also brings Aeschylus' tragedy of matricide, revenge, and justice to life. Aeschylus foreshadows the deus ex machina of Euripides, since Apollo is a major character in "Eumenides." It's a visceral tragedy. Sophocles' "Philoctetes" is more reflective. It's about Philoctetes reclaiming his place in society. Wounded, living as an exile, Odysseus and Neoptolemus (Achilles' son) try to bring Philoctetes back to his rightful place. It's a celebration of the natural world, as well as reflections on old age (it is repeated in Sophocles' "Oedipus at Colonus") Finally, there is the powerful "Bacchae." Arrowsmith's translation perfectly captures the impassioned nature of the play. The repressed, prudish Pentheus finds himself confronted with the wildness of Dionysus, who wants to be affirmed as a god. "Bacchae" is surprisingly contemporary. Pentheus' hatred of the wild side of his own humanity- his embarrassment over his own family- leads him headlong to destruction. "The Greek Tragedies" brings the classics to life.