Orestes and Other PlaysOxford University Press, 2009 M03 26 - 288 pages Ion Orestes The Phoenician Women The Suppliant Women In these four plays Euripides explores ethical and political themes,contrasting the claims of patriotism with family loyalty, pragmatism and expediency with justice, and the idea that 'might is right' with the ideal of clemency. Ion is a vivid portrait of the role of chance in human life and an exploration of family relationships, which combines a sympathetic portrait of a rape victim with remarks on Athenian xenophobia. In Orestes, the most popular of the tragedian's plays in the ancient world, Euripides explores the emotional consequences of Orestes' murder of his mother on the individuals concerned, and makes the tale resonate with advice to Athens about the threat to democracy posed by political pressure groups. The Suppliant Women is a commentary on the politics of empire, as the Athenian king Theseus decides to use force of arms rather than persuasion against Thebes. The Phoenician Women transforms the terrible conflict between Oedipus' sons into one of the most savage indictments of civil war in Western literature by highlighting the personal tragedy it brings. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. |
Contents
Abbreviations | vi |
Introduction | vii |
Note on the Translation | xl |
Select Bibliography | xlii |
A Chronology of Euripides Work and Times | lii |
Map of the Greek World | liv |
ION | 1 |
ORESTES | 48 |
PHOENICIAN WOMEN | 96 |
SUPPLIANT WOMEN | 138 |
Explanatory Notes | 172 |
Textual Notes | 216 |
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Common terms and phrases
ADRASTUS Aeschylus ancient ANTIGONE Apollo Argive Argos arms Athenian Athens birth blood bodies bring brother brought child CHORUS citizens Classical CREON CREUSA daughter dead death Delphi drama earth ELECTRA Enter ETEOCLES Euripides eyes fact father feel friends gave give goddess gods Greece Greek Tragedy ground hand happened happy head hear Helen human husband important Ismenus JOCASTA keep kill king land leave live look marriage mean MENELAUS MESSENGER mind mother murder never Oedipus offered once oracle ORESTES Oxford pain palace performed Phoebus Phoenician Women play political POLYNICES poor PYLADES Reading sacred share side sings slave sons speak suffered Suppliant sword tears tell temple Theban Thebes There's THESEUS things TIRESIAS took troubles turn wife woman Women wretched XUTHUS young Zeus