Elizabeth, you already know how much I love this play. What you do here, so insightful about the history, what the playgoers knew and the translation of "tragic flaw". Kudos.
Yes, please read the play! There are lots of translations and I can't keep up with them, but I use Peter Meineck and Paul Woodruff's *Theban Plays* (Hackett) when I teach. It includes Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus. My first post here was about Antigone, as was my recent article in Salon.com, and I'm going to be writing about Oedipus at Colonus here soon. Such a strange play, that one.
I've started reading your posts; they're fascinating. I was reminded how I used to gobble up Louis Auchincloss' novels when I was in college and grad school. He wrote a lovely memoir, too, which you may know, A Writer's Capital. I loved his line: "A writer's capital is his childhood."
Yes, please read the play! There are lots of translations and I can't keep up with them, but I use Peter Meineck and Paul Woodruff's *Theban Plays* (Hackett) when I teach. It includes Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus. My first post here was about Antigone, as was my recent article in Salon.com, and I'm going to be writing about Oedipus at Colonus here soon. Such a strange play, that one.
I've started reading your posts; they're fascinating. I was reminded how I used to gobble up Louis Auchincloss' novels when I was in college and grad school. He wrote a lovely memoir, too, which you may know, A Writer's Capital. I loved his line: "A writer's capital is his childhood."
Thanks Elizabeth. I've downloaded that edition. I've read some of Louis Auchincloss. I especially liked "The Embezzler." I have not read his memoir yet. That's a terrific line!
Aristotle thought so! He’s the one that still speaks to me most directly (not in a seance way!) after many decades but I love Euripides’ bad-assery. He made it clear that he loathed the gods as they were presented in myth.
Amazing! I never knew the whole story. What a tale and so complex. So well told, thank you. I forgot about Antigone until you mention she was his daughter. In your opinion, was Sophocles the premier writer of Greek tragedy?
Aristotle thought so! He’s the one that still speaks to me most directly (not in a seance way!) after many decades but I love Euripides’ bad-assery. He made it clear that he loathed the gods as they were presented in myth.
Thank you so much, Rona! What a lovely and encouraging compliment. I have just started using Notes after a workshop last week with @Sarah Fay on how to use them and why: the power of the restack!
I’m just musing on your tale. Oedipus is like a Superman in the world. He’s strong enough to kill a king and his entourage, smart enough to solve the riddle of the Sphinx, and even becomes a king himself, not by birth but by merit. Yet maybe the story is saying that life is not about your accomplishments no matter how great. It is about turning those four corners and facing yourself.
Thanks for this great comment, Robert! The great thing about Greek tragedy (and all magnificent writing) is that the stories can be read in so many ways. This one speaks to me in more than one way, to you in another way, to its original audience of Athenians in ways we can only guess at, and it spoke to me very differently when I was 18 and read it for the first time. I'm sharing your comment in Notes; maybe someone else has thoughts about this.
A great reminder of the tragic quality to this story for Oedipus, for us.
Elizabeth, you already know how much I love this play. What you do here, so insightful about the history, what the playgoers knew and the translation of "tragic flaw". Kudos.
Yes, please read the play! There are lots of translations and I can't keep up with them, but I use Peter Meineck and Paul Woodruff's *Theban Plays* (Hackett) when I teach. It includes Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus. My first post here was about Antigone, as was my recent article in Salon.com, and I'm going to be writing about Oedipus at Colonus here soon. Such a strange play, that one.
I've started reading your posts; they're fascinating. I was reminded how I used to gobble up Louis Auchincloss' novels when I was in college and grad school. He wrote a lovely memoir, too, which you may know, A Writer's Capital. I loved his line: "A writer's capital is his childhood."
What terrific summary. It makes me want to read it! Do you have suggestions?
Yes, please read the play! There are lots of translations and I can't keep up with them, but I use Peter Meineck and Paul Woodruff's *Theban Plays* (Hackett) when I teach. It includes Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus. My first post here was about Antigone, as was my recent article in Salon.com, and I'm going to be writing about Oedipus at Colonus here soon. Such a strange play, that one.
I've started reading your posts; they're fascinating. I was reminded how I used to gobble up Louis Auchincloss' novels when I was in college and grad school. He wrote a lovely memoir, too, which you may know, A Writer's Capital. I loved his line: "A writer's capital is his childhood."
Thanks Elizabeth. I've downloaded that edition. I've read some of Louis Auchincloss. I especially liked "The Embezzler." I have not read his memoir yet. That's a terrific line!
Aristotle thought so! He’s the one that still speaks to me most directly (not in a seance way!) after many decades but I love Euripides’ bad-assery. He made it clear that he loathed the gods as they were presented in myth.
Amazing! I never knew the whole story. What a tale and so complex. So well told, thank you. I forgot about Antigone until you mention she was his daughter. In your opinion, was Sophocles the premier writer of Greek tragedy?
Aristotle thought so! He’s the one that still speaks to me most directly (not in a seance way!) after many decades but I love Euripides’ bad-assery. He made it clear that he loathed the gods as they were presented in myth.
It’s been a lifetime since I thought about Oedipus. You make it easy to care and follow along. I hope you are using Notes.
Thank you so much, Rona! What a lovely and encouraging compliment. I have just started using Notes after a workshop last week with @Sarah Fay on how to use them and why: the power of the restack!
Yes, me too.
I’m just musing on your tale. Oedipus is like a Superman in the world. He’s strong enough to kill a king and his entourage, smart enough to solve the riddle of the Sphinx, and even becomes a king himself, not by birth but by merit. Yet maybe the story is saying that life is not about your accomplishments no matter how great. It is about turning those four corners and facing yourself.
Thanks for this great comment, Robert! The great thing about Greek tragedy (and all magnificent writing) is that the stories can be read in so many ways. This one speaks to me in more than one way, to you in another way, to its original audience of Athenians in ways we can only guess at, and it spoke to me very differently when I was 18 and read it for the first time. I'm sharing your comment in Notes; maybe someone else has thoughts about this.