Sophocles' Antigone: A New Translation

I bought this edition specifically because Diane Rayor wrote the book. I heard wonderful things about her translations; namely, how thoughtful they are towards characterization. And the reviews were spot-on. Not only was this a sound book to teach the literature portion from, but the stage directions and explanations were exceedingly helpful for picturing how the actors can move while performing. Plus, there are extra blank pages in the back of the book, which I have been filling with notes and annotations.The book comes with an explanation towards the beginning, which delves into the nature of the story; the origin, how Sophocles arranged for it to be performed, and the emergence of The Chorus. Their role within ancient plays cannot be overstated, for example in how they are later featured heavily in Shakespeare's. I was ecstatic to read more about them right then and there. Professor Rayor truly went in-depth, even traveling to Greece to learn more about the process of Ancient Greek theatre. All in all, this book has been an absolute joy to possess.

It's been some years since I've read the traditional translations of this great play, but I found Professor Rayor's translation to be an elegant, very readable translation. I also found the introduction to ancient Greek tragedy, including the details of how the plays would have been performed, to be a helpful refresher, providing a historical and visual context for how the play would be performed. After all, it is a play: Aristotle (if I recall correctly) to the contrary, performance is critical. I appreciated Karen Libman's director's note on the initial performance based on this translation. I would like to have seen this, but I will keep my eyes open for a future performance somewhere.

Excellent copy.

👍🏼

good

This famous Sophocles play takes place in a 24-hour period. It’s a time of civil war in ancient Thebes. Antigone is the elder daughter in the royal family. Her two brothers have just fought a war over the throne, and both have been killed. Her uncle Kreon, as the next male in the royal line, has assumed the throne. His first royal decree is that the brother who attacked with a now-defeated foreign army (Polynices) cannot be buried and that anyone who does so will be killed. Nothing was worse in ancient Greek culture than to be denied ritual burial, left outdoors to be picked at by birds and torn apart by wild dogs. No one else is willing to cross the new king, so Antigone defies king Kreon’s cruel and immoral decree and prepares her brother Polynices for burial. The Greek chorus in the background warns repeatedly of the looming disaster facing the royal family ('Great blows punish/ great boasting by arrogant men'), as Kreon, enraged by Antigone’s defiance of his royal decree, resists public sentiment and orders Antigone to be killed by being buried alive in a cave.Diane Rayor’s very readable new translation of this powerful play lucidly portrays the conflict that Antigone faces in defying her uncle’s immoral order. Faced with a cruel, heartless, immoral order, what is an individual to do, especially one who is a member of the ruling family? Is a valid decree of the state, no matter how cruel, something that must be complied with by every individual? No, Antigone chooses death rather than be bullied by a tyrant ('O tomb, bridal chamber, deep,/ eternal crypt where I walk toward/ my own kin, most of whom have perished').Sophocles’ play was written and acted during the brutal 30-years Greek civil war between the Athenian League and Sparta and her allies. The Athenian audience would certainly have recognized the parallels in the famous saga of the Theban royal family with the savage politics of the Athenian state at war. But such profound criticism is easier to process if it ostensibly applies to a different state at a different time.