Iphigeneia at Aulis (Greek Tragedy in New Translations) [Paperback]

Euripides (Author), W. S. Merwin (Translator), George E. Dimock Jr (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Greek Tragedy in New Translations | Publication Date: October 29, 1992

In this new translation of Euripides' celebrated Greek tragedy, W.S. Merwin and George E. Dimock, Jr. offer a compelling look at the devastating consequence of 'man's inhumanity to man'. A stern critique of Greek culture, Iphigeneia at Aulis condemns the Trojan War by depicting the power of political ambition and the ensuing repercussions of thoughtlessly falling to the will of constituency. The translation impressively re-creates the broad array of moral and emotional tones conveyed by Euripides, with a comprehensive introduction, notes on the text, and a glossary of mythical and geographical terms.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wonderful edition."--Professor Coni Maniels, University of Hawaii at Manoa

"The translation is clear and conveys well the sense of Euripides' intent. The introduction gives an up-to-date evaluation of the play. The notes should be very helpful to the Greekless reader. The glossary at the end of this and the other volumes in the series are excellent as a guide to the mythless reader."--Patricia P. Matsen, University of South Carolina

"A very accessible translation of a wonderful story. The glossary is very useful."--Karen E. Stohr, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"Very well edited, and priced right."--Edna L. Steeves, University of Rhode Island

Language Notes

Text: English, Greek (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (October 29, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195077091
• ISBN-13: 978-0195077094
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Drama > Classical & Early

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First rate, modern translation, February 27, 2002

By 

Graham Henderson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iphigeneia at Aulis (The Greek Tragedy in New Translations) (Hardcover)

Finding first rate translations can be a hit and miss affair. However, this it definitely a "hit". Merwin's translation of Euripides' tragedy is masterful and deserves the glowing reviews it has received here as elsewhere. Readers of this review might be interested to know that it is part of a series called "The Greek Tragedy in New Translations". And while it is out of print, good used copies are freely available in the Amazon marketplace -- which is where I secured mine.

Merwin has rendered a taut, readable version in modern English. And the volume is supplemented with an extremely interesting introduction by George Dimock -- with which I am not sure I entirely agree -- though he does a fine job of fitting the play within the context of the Peloponnesian War.

For me, the riveting aspect of this work is the treatment that Achilles gets (Agamemnon, of course, gets a good drubbing, which is satisfying -- but hardly unexpected!). We see him at Aulis, a young man as yet unbowed and unbloodied by the years of warfare at Troy. Dimock makes a rather startling remark when he asseverates, "The one thing that his [Achilles] speeches do not contain is simple human feeling such as Paris might entertain: it does not seem to have occurred to him that a young girl is about to die." And he is rather critical of Achilles for this (I might even say that his introduction is suffused with "pro-Trojan" sympathies). But for me, isn't this rather the whole point? Of course Achilles is like this, it took TEN years of warfare and the death of Patroclus for him to learn (and recall that he ALONE among the Greeks appears to have absorbed the lesson) how to be "human" -- on this see Bernard Knox's introduction to Robert Fagles' brilliant translation of the Iliad. I prefer the General Editor's view on this when he says, "the play enacts the heroic education of Achilles." Well, at least it enacts the very early stages of it!

Merwin is a wonderful poet -- and I would also recommend his translation of Dante's Purgatorio and Paradiso. For readers in search of other top notch modern translations, see Stanley Lombardo's truly astonishing translations of the Iliad and the Odyssey. See also Nicholas Pevear's translation of Aias.

Here is a sample of Merwin's translation (from the Chorus's reaction to a speech of Agamemnon's):

"O Cyprian,
most beautiful of the goddesses, keep
such wild flights from me.
Let me know love
within reason and desire within
marraige, and feel your presence
not your rage.
The natures of humans
are various, and human ways of acting
are different,
but everyone knows what is right,
and teaching
inclines them at last to virtue."

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The innocent are the victims of war., June 21, 1999

By 

R. D. Allison ([e-mail]) (Gainesville, Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iphigeneia at Aulis (The Greek Tragedy in New Translations) (Hardcover)

This is Euripides' last play, it being incomplete at his death. His son, and perhaps a few others, added to it. Agamemnon, King of Argos, is forced by the army he is leading (in the war against Troy) to offer his daughter, Iphigenia, up for sacrifice so that the army can finally set sail for Troy. His wife, Clytemnestra, pleads for mercy even to Achilles but to no avail. Euripides displays all of the "heroes" with little honor: the unconscious shame of the great. Only Iphigenia is noble. Euripides also continues his scathing criticism of the Greek gods and their lack of honor and morals.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Timely thoughts on the sacrifices of war, November 4, 2004

By 

Kuru (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Iphigeneia at Aulis (Greek Tragedy in New Translations) (Paperback)

This play contemplates the question of how many wars would be fought if the first to die were the children of the leaders themselves. The translation is quite readable but not strict, as a comparison of Greek with English line numbers quickly shows. The introductory essay and concluding notes on the play are especially helpful, placing the play in its historical context (the Peloponesian War) and explaining various allusions to mythological or historical events in the play itself.