Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge, 2/e, is an accessible yet in-depth literary study of Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus --the most famous Greek tragedy and one of the greatest masterpieces of world literature. This unique volume combines a close,
scene-by-scene literary analysis of the text with an account of the play's historical, intellectual, social, and mythical background and also discusses the play's place in the development of the myth and its use of the theatrical conventions of Greek drama. Based on a fresh scrutiny of the Greek
text, this book offers a contemporary literary interpretation of the play, including a readable, nontechnical discussion of its underlying moral and philosophical issues; the role of the gods; the interaction of character, fate, and chance; the problem of suffering and meaning; and Sophocles'
conception of tragedy and tragic heroism. This lucid guide traces interpretations of the play from antiquity to modern times--from Aristotle to Hegel, Nietzsche, Freud, Lacan, L�vi-Strauss, Girard, and Vernant--and shows its central role in shaping the European conception of tragedy and modern
notions of the self. This second edition draws on new approaches to the study of Greek tragedy; discusses the most recent interpretative scholarship on the play; and contains an annotated up-to-date bibliography. Ideal for courses in classical literature in translation, Greek drama, classical
civilization, theater, and literature and arts, Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge, 2/e, will also reward general readers interested in literature and especially tragedy.

Reader Reviews

Laura Leaney

(5/5)

Nov 27, 2016

This book is an intellectual and compelling discussion of Sophocles' horribly beautiful play. I especially liked Segal's position that Oedipus is no "puppet of the gods" despite the fact that all roads seem to lead to the oracular truth that he was destined to slay his father and bed his mother. Segal quotes Karl Reinhardt and writes: "'For Sophocles, as for the Greeks of an earlier age, fate is in no circumstances the same as predetermination, but is a spontaneous unfolding of daimonic power.'

Stella

Jan 02, 2020

If only the rating had more stars!

Anastasia Tzellou

(4/5)

Jun 12, 2020

Dane Forshaw

Dec 27, 2015

Minhajul

Jun 29, 2008

Nick Richards

Dec 19, 2011

Sachi

Sep 21, 2007

Brian

Feb 14, 2021

Gwendolyn

(3/5)

Jun 09, 2015

Deborah San Gabriel

Jul 29, 2014

murkuo

Oct 10, 2016

Jacques Bromberg

Sep 15, 2006

Jamey

Nov 29, 2007

Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez

Nov 21, 2015

Rachel Martin

Feb 01, 2017

Debbie Baker

Jun 09, 2021

Jan 29, 2014

Brian Lupo

May 09, 2018

Rodolfo Lazo de la Vega

(2/5)

Feb 07, 2011

Stella Klimatsaki

Dec 19, 2019

Dominic Laverick

Oct 15, 2021

Joseph

Apr 11, 2015

Mike

Mar 21, 2021

Samantha Devin

Nov 14, 2014

Rafael

(0/5)

Nov 06, 2011

Adriana Ibarra

Nov 05, 2012

Yinzadi

Nov 18, 2012

Christoph

Jan 24, 2014

Annastilvi

Mar 24, 2015

Michael Belcher

Jun 21, 2015

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Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge

Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge

Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge

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Reader Reviews