Six Tragedies (Oxford World’s Classics) 1st Edition by Emily Wilson (PDF)

Description

Phaedra * Oedipus * Medea * Trojan Women * Hercules Furens * ThyestesSeneca’s plays are the product of a sensational, frightening, and oppressive period of history. Tutor to the emperor Nero, Seneca lived through uncertain and violent times, and his dramas depict the extremes of human behaviour. Rape, suicide, child-killing, incestuous love, madness and mutilation afflict the characters, who are obsessed and destroyed by their feelings. Passion is constantly set against reason, and passion wins out. Seneca forces us to think about the difference betweencompromise and hypocrisy, about what happens when emotions overwhelm judgement, and about how, if at all, a person can be good, calm, or happy in a corrupt society and under constant threat of death.Seneca was one of the most prolific, versatile, and influential of all classical Latin writers, and the only tragic playwright from ancient Rome whose work survives. This new edition of his six best plays captures Seneca’s style in a verse translation that is both lively and accurate.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.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I had to read this book for my class which focuses on literature for Augustus to Nero.I have the kindle version. The starring in the e-book is really nice in elaborating on references which mention gods, events, et cetera that as an average contemporary reader we don’t know about, but any Roman citizen reading this would have known. Yet I still think there were a lot more points that the book could have pointed out because really unless you have a very extensive knowledge of both Greek and Roman mythology it’s easy to miss many enriching references in the tragedies. That is my main scruple with the book. As someone who does know Latin, for the syntax, I think it followed really well what you would expect from reading this in the original language which I really enjoyed. Latin prides itself on this paradoxical and ambiguous syntax that this translation did well capturing.Now for the actual content of the book:I love Seneca, most of the time. The plays Medea, Phaedra, Oedipus, and Thyestes do not disappoint. They are scattered with those stoic principles Seneca is so famous for. They have the fast pasted, passionate plots that you want in a tragedy. That being said Hercules Furens and Trojan Women, not so much. Both of these lack that spark of passion which makes all these other plays so interesting. They also seem to really not be focused on actual action but just retelling of former events.BE WARNED: These plays contain very graphic and violent depictions of murders of children, incest, and so forth just so you know. It is speculated that Seneca wrote these during the Neronian period so this graphic violence is directly correlated to a pessimism he suffered from living in such a period working under an emperor like Nero, but who knows

⭐It was said that Columbus carried a copy of Medea and regularly consulted the chorus in Act 2 which relates to the voyage of the Argonauts. The translation is excellent, but Seneca is perhaps a bit melodramatic in his writing which is refreshing to read, but not at the level of modern drama – nor as focused or philosophical as the ancient Greeks. Perhaps I am biased, but it feels like a rehashing of Greek tragedy with empty carbs thrown on top. Still worth a read if you like Seneca and want to feel something.

⭐I love Greek Tragediess but haven’t read them in years. I have to admit the reason I decided to reread them at this time was because of Jeopardy questions and because I was rereading the Odyssey. Will let you know how they read when you are are older

⭐The overpowering passion in these plays is terrifyingly believiable.

⭐What can I say I like the classics and it was a required college book. If you enjoy the classics give it a whirl.

⭐I’m very pleased with Seneca “Six tragedies”, Emily Wilson’s translation..

⭐Ms Wilson gives valuable information on Seneca’s life and times, which helps explain the content and tone of the tragedies. She also tracks how he influenced Elizabethan drama, from Kyd to Webster.

⭐Son loves this. Beautiful !!!

⭐Very interesting rewritings by Seneca of some powerful Ancient Greek dramas. Helps if you know the Greeks in advance. Extremely useful notes by Emily Wilson. A bargain.

⭐So far I have got to ‘Trojan Women’, but I am finding them a great read! A real horror show of blood and gore, all expressed in over-the-top hyperbole, a great escape from the mediocrity of modern politics!

⭐Gift

⭐Fantastic Book, great read and good translation

⭐well presented

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