Customer Reviews

Sophocles: Oedipus Rex (Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics)

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"Oedipus the King" (or, "Oedipus Rex") is probably Sophocles' most famous work, first performed about 429 B. C. It should be required reading for every college Freshman (or High School student). As had been prophesied, Oedipus unknowingly kills his father, Laius, and unknowingly marries his own mother, Jocasta (or, Iocasta). The play has great use of irony. Jocasta recognizes the truth before Oedipus and tries to prevent him from finding out. The play has unsurpassed use of dramatic irony. The play inspires fear and pity in the audience for the hero. It has had a great influence on later authors.

Oedipus Rex is a timeless, masterpiece of a tragedy whose greatness and complexity far transcends the age in which it was written. Sophecles skillfully delves into the depths of human behavior, and discerns an acute knowledge of the components which compromise the human behavior which he is studying. Human desires, the human moral code, and the human sense of remorse are three of the facets of human behavior which Sophocles conveys to us through Oedipus in his rise to power and subsequent demise. Reading Oedipus Rex can not only provide a powerful and extraordinary literary experience, but can also pose an oppurtunity for examination and reflection regarding human behavior at large, and the behavior of one's self. After reading Oedipus, it is not difficult to understand why Aristotle proclaimed Sophocles' epic to be civilization's greatest work.

this is one of the best plays ever written, as well as one of the earliest. oedipus has become very much a part of our culture, and the oedipus plays should be required reading. fitzgerald and fitts did a wonderful job in the translation.

Oedipus Rex was one of the-if not the- best Greek play ever written. As far as tragedy goes, this book falls short at not one spot. It has all the excitement of a daily soap opera, while giving you an experience you will never forget and allowing you to learn about the culture in the b.c. times. Overall, this play was just wonderful...

Oedipus Rex is truly timeless. The copy I read was not entirely poetic, but the story of a man ruined by his own pride and arrogance presents humankind with a portrait of itself. We ofted need to see ourselves through the eyes of another. Sophocles is not just a playwright, but a proven social critic.

Oedipus Rex is ancient work that still remains popular today. It is one of those works that many of us were forced to read in high school or even college. However, Oedipus Rex can simply be one of those books you can easily read for pleasure. It is a tragic tale of a man who goes through life thinking he is someone that he turns out not to be. Oedipus' life is cursed by an old prophecy that said that he would marry his mother and kill his father, if he was not himself killed as an infant. As it turns out, he is not killed but ends up fulfilling this horrible prophecy. This book has easy to follow dialogue and really gets the readers full attention. Oedipus Rex is a short book that we all can relate to when we are having a bad day or when we feel that nothing is going right for us. After reading this book, you will come to realize that life is nowhere as horrible as that of the tragic hero Oedipus. I encourage everyone who is going through trying times to read this book, and I guarantee it will make him or her feel much better.

Just in case my review ends up in any and every edition of Oedipus Rex that is sold at Amazon.com, I should make it clear from the start that this is a review of the edition of the play presented in the original Greek, edited and with commentary by R.D. Rawe, which is to be found in the Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics.

About the play itself I will say nothing other than it is the greatest play of the greatest playwright of the ancient world.

Concerning the text as presented by Dawe, it was interesting to pleasurable to read and compare his own particular edition of the play with that of other editors such as Jebb and Hugh Lloyd-Jones. Unfortunately, not being a scholar of the manuscript tradition, I can say nothing about the judiciousness of his particular editorial choices.

Regarding the commentary, I found it excellent, particularly in its explanations of particle combinations and its highlighting of peculiar diction on Sophocles' part.

Excellent though it is, I should stress that it is clearly not aimed at students of Greek who are only beginning their study of Greek tragedy, since Dawe passes over in silence much that would be obscure and difficult to inexperienced students. That said, it would still be an interesting and illuminating commentary for a the more inexperienced student so long as he or she used it in conjunction with another commentary oriented to beginners in tragedy -- the best such commentary would be that published in the amazing Bryn Mawr Commentary series.

What struck me most about Dawe's commentary was the wonderfully dry sense of humor that expresses itself from time to time. It is the only commentary on an ancient Greek text that I've read which actually had me laughing out loud on a number of occasions.

All in all, then, I highly recommend it.

Oedipus Rex a story for the ages, one which is relatable to our time today and hundreds of years ago. Sophocles tells a story of a prophesy, of Oedipus' life where he is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus tries to run but he was no match for fate, read the book to find out what happens. This story was one which entails many aspects of human nature, and i suggest this book to everyone, it was a great story.

This sick and twisted plot is actually pretty amazing. I can't believe anything could endure so many centuries of change.

Sophocles is my hero (sigh)! Read the book, it is full of irony and symbolism, but don't get wrapped up in the terminology of English Lit. classes -- just enjoy the play!

I do not feel Sophocles quite matches Aeschylus. Nevertheless, his trilogy is a phenomenal piece of literature. The construction of this is superb. WITHOUT REALIZING IT, Oedipus has murdered his father, married his mother, and has had children with his mother. This horror filled play DEFINES Aristotle's theory of recognition. Gradually we (along with Oedipus) are exposed to bits of information that lead to the discovery of what has happened. The true horror is when the clues start getting bigger and more obvious. When I finished the 1st of the trilogy, I was so overcome with horror that I had to smoke some cigarettes to calm down. But remember, the play DOES NOT end here. It continues in "Oedipus at Colonus" (Part 2) and "Antigone" (Part 3).