![]() ![]() In the beginning of the play, two brothers leading opposite sides in Thebes' civil war died fighting each other for the throne.Ĭreon, the new ruler of Thebes, has decided that Eteocles will be honored and Polyneices will be in public shame. The play expands on the Theban legend that predated it and picks up where Aeschylus' Seven Against Thebes ends. It is the third of the three Theban plays chronologically, but was the first written. Karelisa Hartigan, The Classical BulletinĪntigone is a tragedy by Sophocles written in or before 441 BC. Should our drama department ask for my advice as to a playable text, I would certainly suggest Woodruff's new version. Woodruff's introduction is a strong, clear, and clever blend of basic traditional information (to those who know Greek tragedy) and fresh insights. Antigone's words on the gods' unwritten laws keep close to the Greek and yet would be authentic for a modern speaker. Woodruff's rendering of the dialogue moves along easily these are lines that any contemporary Antigone, Creon or Haemon might speak. After giving a succinct analysis of each in his introduction, Woodruff translates the lyrics into English that is both poetic and comprehensible. The choral odes as rendered here deserve special notice. Line notes printed at the bottom of the page bring a reader further quick assistance. Woodruff's work with Peter Meineck makes this text one that is accessible to today's students and could be staged for modern audiences. ![]()
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