"Favourite Greek Tragedies?" Topic

I just treated myself to a collection of the Greek tragedies by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides--I think all the extant plays are there. In looking over the contents, and feeling quite spoiled for choice, I'm curious if there are works any of you might particularly recommend.

I am already somewhat familiar with The Oresteia by Aeschylus (actually three plays), Oedipus the King and Antigone by Sophocles, and just this morning I've read Medea and Iphigenia in Tauris. They're all superb, of course, and I'm hungry for more.

I'd appreciate any input regarding what I should read next. If you have the time, it would help to hear what it is you like about the given work in addition to just a name; just gives me a little more to go on. Many thanks for any help!

My all time favourite is the Oresteia, actually.

I also like Seven Against Thebes.

It is a shame that more plays are not completely preserved. Greek tragedies are way more tragic than just about anything else out there. Even most of Shakespeare's tragedies leave you with some hope at the end.

The Bacchae by Euripides. It is dark beyond belief.

Although my favourite is Oedipus Rex, Euripides treatment of his women characters. in all of his plays, is compelling (though sometimes repugnant).

As a fairly frequent theatre-goer, I prefer to see a play rather than read it but good performances of Greek tragedies are rarer than, say, those of Shakespeare.

The point of tragedy is 'catharsis': "there but for the grace of god…." In this sense, the outcome of Greek tragedies is more effective than with the Shakespearian model.

The Euro :-)

It's funny you both mention Shakespeare. I have to say there is something about the Greek works I think I may actually prefer(not that I dislike Shakespeare, mind--I'm reading Romeo and Juliet with my daughters now, and of course it's magnificent!). There is a raw quality about the Greek works, they have cleaner lines (not lines of dialogue, but the plot itself); perhaps it is the difference between a Greek temple like the Parthenon and a renaissance church: both have their own appeal, but in the end I almost think I prefer the more austere beauty of the first. I don't know if it quite relates, but Tolkien said he greatly preferred earlier works to those of the Bard, as he found Elizabethan authors in general too 'giddy', and felt most at home with the sparer delights of older authors. Maybe that's it. But then Chaucer (whom Tolkien loved), is anything but sedate, and can fly pretty off the handle himself at times--which is half the fun of him--so I may be getting the quote, or its sense, wrong.

Back on topic: thank you for the leads on Seven and Bacchae. I might go for one of those next. Ochoin, I can't agree more regarding the merits of seeing rather than reading plays--it really does them a disservice just reading every line from a book--but as you say it can be quite difficult finding good performances of them, especially performances done in the classical way without being 'moderned up', and so one does the best he can.

I appreciate the responses!

Second would be Oedipus Rex. A piece of art that gets to the crux of things that aren't supposed to be, but nevertheless exist.

Ah, Legbiter, but don't forget the profundities of Yanni either.

I like Aeschylus.
The University of Utah puts on (or perhaps used to put on) a Greek play every fall, performing outside at a small amphitheater at the nearby gardens, which was always fun to go to when I lived in the Salt Lake valley.
The Greeks were going to refurbish the Theater of Dionysus on the southeast corner of the Acropolis. I suspect that got derailed by their economic problems. Anyone know for sure?

Grelber

Read the Bacchae next, then read "The Mask of Apollo" by Mary Renault for an interesting take on a production of it (it's also quite a good book aside from the theater bits).

Doug

Keep in mind you are reading translations.
This will inevitably mean you hear the language through the efforts of the translator. Some are better than others & all change things.

BTW seeing Doug brought up a modern take via Mary Renault I'll say we can't help imposing our understandings on the plays.
For example, many modern critics see Euripides' works as showing a deep dissatisfaction with traditional Greek religion. I doubt this but it's still an interesting avenue to explore.

If you ever get a chance, read Jean Anouilh's play Antigone written during the Nazi occupation of Paris. It's 'Antigone' all right but coloured by current events.

A great work of Art (Greek or Elizabethan tragedy) transcends its time & speaks to us.

BTW seeing Doug brought up a modern take via Mary Renault

Actually, "The Mask of Apollo" is a novel set in the period about the life of Dion, but the protagonist/narrator is an actor, and a production of the Bacchae in Syracuse is pivotal to the plot. Still, though, you're seeing an interpretation of what Greek drama would have been like through the lens of a writer of the 1950s, so it is sort of a modern take on it.

Doug

Oh yes. I would add they can transcend language as well. A Japanese friend of mine adored Shakespeare. Curious, I asked him if he read him in English or Japanese. He winced a little and said, "You must forgive me, but my English isn't good enough--so I read them in Japanese. But there is something, I think, in Shakespeare that speaks to the Japanese soul." Which I thought a very interesting comment. It called to mind Kurosawa, another Japanese who love Shakespeare's plays. I wonder if he only read them in Japanese?

Thank you as always, Ochoin, for your thoughts. You put things very well. Euripides' supposed dissatisfaction with Greek religion is probably overplayed sometimes (neither Medea nor Iphigenia seemed to have impiety as their motive that I could see), but we do know he was deeply unpopular in some quarters during his life (Aristophanes is relentless (though clearly an avid reader/attendee of his target's works, which is interesting to note)) and this youngest of the great tragedians could certainly stir issues, it seems.

Elsyrsyn, you have nudged me to do Bacchae next, and the Renault tip is a great one. I re-read Last of the Wine about a year ago and loved it all over again. Many thanks!

Reread the Oresteia. It's awesome.

Antigone

If you would rather listen than read them there is always this:

link

There are others. You can even listen while painting.

Euripides' and Seneca's "Medea".

Seneca's is pretty creepy (I know,he's not Greek, but he's uses a lot of Latin equivalents of Greek grammatical structure so I included him).

I feel like a total helot amongst you lot:( I now have to go and explore all these tragedies, so now another journey I must partake :)
Cheers thanks guys got to say classical education and learning on TMP is not ignored. And may the isil/dash death cult slip in the shower break its neck and not be found for hours. (Another part of irreplaceable classical architecture was destroyed by them this last few days- 'YES WE CAN' this is on you I say-all talk no action man:((

Iphigenia in Brooklyn.

I have 3 different translations for most of them. 4 for the Bakkhai, including my own ^,^

Generally, I prefer the Grene & Lattimore series. No translation can capture everything from another language. I'm always fond of the balance that Lattimore strikes.

Yes, Lattimore is very good. The collection I just got is his and Grene's. Another I like is Robert Fitzgerald. His are at times a little easier to read than Lattimore (Fitzgerald's opening of the Iliad is the best sounding I've come across), but I don't care for his use of the more correct spellings! Akhilleus, Kirke, just throw me.

Zargon, the classics can often be an oasis in a troubled world--though all the old problems are reflected in it!

Speaking of which: as the volume with Bacchae was in a room occupied by my sleeping daughter, I began The Trojan Women this morning. Chilling stuff.

I'm fascinated by the current one.

SInce I do read Greek, it's the older Latinised spellings that through me, I prefer a closer rendition of the Greek spellings.

@ Zargon

A helot? You wish……
In the Socratic dialogue 'Meno', Meno's slave is a character. Socrates demonstrates his method of questioning by questioning him. This house slave is ignorant of geometry but in the subsequent discussion, Socrates shows the slave capable of learning a complicated geometry problem.

Anyone can lern*

*self-deprecating spelling

Just began The Bacchae…

Knocked a box of Athenian and Spartan hoplites off the table onto a concrete floor. Now that was a tragedy.

The one where the Athenians thought it was a good idea to attack Syracuse…..

The scene in the abandoned stone quarry always brings a tear to my eye.