alanascorrea's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
hbelle01's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ggallinot's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Technically three plays.
I would say Oedipus Rex leads the pack, followed by Antigone, and finally Colonus. Best to read them back to back to back to Getty he full effect.
The Greek philosophers knew how to make these plays SAD. It’s always fascinating reading these early works that paved the way for so much of the classics and even contemporary literature of the day.
I would say Oedipus Rex leads the pack, followed by Antigone, and finally Colonus. Best to read them back to back to back to Getty he full effect.
The Greek philosophers knew how to make these plays SAD. It’s always fascinating reading these early works that paved the way for so much of the classics and even contemporary literature of the day.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Self harm
Moderate: Suicide
carrie_bradshaw_core's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
knz_edmo's review
5.0
Big take away: Men talk so much in Greek Lit, which I suppose makes sense, given the times, but they talk so much.
“Is anyone in all the world safe from unhappiness?”
This is the fourth time I’ve read this trio of plays and this will be my first review of it. Perhaps it is better that way. 17 year old me who read this first had never even experienced heartbreak, much less the immense pain of leaving someone you love to complete an education you didn’t necessarily want to pursue in the first place.
Regardless, the pain and loss I’ve experienced in my 23 years of life pales in comparison to that of our dear Oedipus. A man who tried so hard to run from fate, that he ran straight into it, leading ultimately to the death of his entire family (besides Ismene? that part was somewhat unclear).
I find it interesting that we see Oedipus in two very different stages of his life, but the grief he incurred during our first picture of a reigning King is no less when we find him as an old blind wanderer.
Rest in peace, Antigone. Could those men have shut up for two seconds and realized how their pride was impacting their choices? Realistically if one man, in the entire play, had just shut up for two seconds, how many people other than Oedipus and Iocaste would have had to die?
This was not the review I was hoping to write, I think. But it is the review that has been written.
Maybe one day humanity will universally recognize our hubris and avoid the fall that many individuals have taken before. Or maybe not.
“Is anyone in all the world safe from unhappiness?”
This is the fourth time I’ve read this trio of plays and this will be my first review of it. Perhaps it is better that way. 17 year old me who read this first had never even experienced heartbreak, much less the immense pain of leaving someone you love to complete an education you didn’t necessarily want to pursue in the first place.
Regardless, the pain and loss I’ve experienced in my 23 years of life pales in comparison to that of our dear Oedipus. A man who tried so hard to run from fate, that he ran straight into it, leading ultimately to the death of his entire family (besides Ismene? that part was somewhat unclear).
I find it interesting that we see Oedipus in two very different stages of his life, but the grief he incurred during our first picture of a reigning King is no less when we find him as an old blind wanderer.
Rest in peace, Antigone. Could those men have shut up for two seconds and realized how their pride was impacting their choices? Realistically if one man, in the entire play, had just shut up for two seconds, how many people other than Oedipus and Iocaste would have had to die?
This was not the review I was hoping to write, I think. But it is the review that has been written.
Maybe one day humanity will universally recognize our hubris and avoid the fall that many individuals have taken before. Or maybe not.
neillikestoread's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kitkathy24's review
4.0
This is the first piece of classical literature I've loved from the beginning.
paulataua's review
3.0
I came across an audiobook version of ‘The Theban Plays’, not the version here on Goodreads, but one translated by Ian Johnston, and although I prefer Aeschylus to Sophocles , I thought this was a good listen. ‘Oedipus the King’ and ‘Antigone’ are really good, but there is something less satisfying about ‘Oedipus in Colonus’, and It really just seems like a link between the two.
gregorvermin's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Suicide
Moderate: Death
Minor: Incest and Abandonment