Sophocles: Ajax (Cambridge Translations from Greek Drama)
Treating ancient plays as living drama. Classical Greek drama is brought vividly to life in this series of new translations. Students are encouraged to engage with the text through detailed commentaries, including suggestions for discussion and analysis. In addition, numerous practical questions stimulate ideas on staging and encourage students to explore the play's dramatic qualities. Ajax is suitable for students of both Classical Civilisation and Drama. Useful features include full synopsis of the play, commentary alongside translation for easy reference and a comprehensive introduction to the Greek Theatre. Ajax is aimed primarily at A-level and undergraduate students in the UK, and college students in North America.
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Community Reviews
This is a 3.75.
The philosophical lessons presented here - and the overall moral of the story - are very similar to the ones in "Oedipus at Colonus".
Simply put :
1) "Respect the dead whatever their deeds. Whatever your relationship with them was when they were alive. You will be the one living with a conscience, they won't (obviously) ."
2) If your cause is just, then fight for it.
3) "Being well-born doesn't make you honorable, being mindful, open-minded, and respectful does. "
The only problem with reading a tragedy is that you get all the information and the "action" ( meaning events and their consequences) after the fact, you don't get to see it/ experience it. You are rather told about it.
Also, we have to keep in mind that translations could never be held responsible for not being able to transpose the rythm, the music of classic tragedies, which was mostly what makes them special and enjoyable ( you had to be there, I guess). Nonetheless, it was enjoyable to read, maybe not the best tale of Sophocles' collection.
The philosophical lessons presented here - and the overall moral of the story - are very similar to the ones in "Oedipus at Colonus".
Simply put :
1) "Respect the dead whatever their deeds. Whatever your relationship with them was when they were alive. You will be the one living with a conscience, they won't (obviously) ."
2) If your cause is just, then fight for it.
3) "Being well-born doesn't make you honorable, being mindful, open-minded, and respectful does. "
The only problem with reading a tragedy is that you get all the information and the "action" ( meaning events and their consequences) after the fact, you don't get to see it/ experience it. You are rather told about it.
Also, we have to keep in mind that translations could never be held responsible for not being able to transpose the rythm, the music of classic tragedies, which was mostly what makes them special and enjoyable ( you had to be there, I guess). Nonetheless, it was enjoyable to read, maybe not the best tale of Sophocles' collection.
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