Overview

This unique and fresh interpretation of an enigmatic classic provides a greater understanding of the play's religious and political undertones with an innovative and focused examination which proposes an earlier recognition than previously assumed of the whole truth by Jocasta. This will become an indispensable reference book for Classical scholars in this first ever English translation.

Full Product Details

Author:   Shigenari Kawashima ,  Naoko Yamagata
Publisher:   The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd
Imprint:   Edwin Mellen Press Ltd
ISBN:  

9780773400573

ISBN 10:   0773400575
Pages:   192
Publication Date:   April 2014
Audience:   General/trade ,  General ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

"ABSTRACT; FOREWEORD; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION; PROLOGUE - PREFACE TO DRAMA; 1. Religious and political aspects of Oedipus Tryannus; 2. Theban legends and Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus; CHAPTER 1: CHANGE (TYCHE) AND IRONY; 1. Thebes in the grip of the plague: the opening of the play; 2. Chance (tyche) and Sophoclean irony; 3. 'Whose bad fortune (tyche)?'; 4. Truth (aletheia) as the 'unsolved mysteries'; CHAPTER 2: TIRESIAS AND CREON; 1. Oedipus' determination and self-curse; 2. 'Tyche fell upon his head....'; 3. Two kinds of gaze in Oedipus Tyrannus; 4. The entrance of Tiresias/truth (aletheia); 5. The ambiguity of the accusation; 6. The riddle of the Sphinx and the riddle of Apollo; 7. 'The wandering bull"" - the first stasimon; 8. Creon - the measure of Oedipus' delusion; CHAPTER 3: JOCASTA AND THE ORACLE OF APOLLO; 1. A place where three roads meet; 2. The incident (tyche) of the past; 3. The oracle given to Laius - two mentions by Jocasta; 4. The difference in motivation; 5. The difference in expression; 6. 'Who is Oedipus?' - where does this search begin?; 7. Jocasta's discovery; 8. Oedipus' cry 'daimon'!; 9. Jocasta's decision - her silence and denial of the oracle; CHAPTER 4:JOCASTA AND TYCHE (CHANCE); 1. Jocasta's 'piety'; 2. Insult to the oracle; 3. 'It is Chance that rules'; 4. 'Your savior, too, my child'; 5. 'May you never find out who you are.'; - Jocasta's futile resistance; 6. Oedipus the son of Tyche; CHAPTER 5:THE SECOND STASIMON; 1. The Second Stasimon's place within the plot (mythos); 2. The violator of 'the sublime laws'; 3. Hybris breeds the tyrant'; 4. 'With no fear of Justice...'; AND MORE."

Reviews

Oedipus Tyrannus still exerts an exceptionally powerful appeal not only for students and scholars, theatre directors and audiences but also - in a variety of languages and adaptations...the author teases out, in a fresh way, the religious implications of Oedipus' reactions to discovering the truth of his identity. (Dr. P.E. Easterling, Regius Professor Emeritus of Greek, University of Cambridge) Prof. Kawashima's interpretation of the Oedipus Tyrannus as a whole clearly shows how the characterization of Oedipus and Jocasta, the dramaturgy, and the thought expressed by the whole structure of the play, are beautifully integrated... this book will be considered one of the great contributions to the study of this most challenging and enigmatic masterpiece of Sophocles' tragedies. (Dr. Shogo Hirata, Professor of Humanities, Toho University, Tokyo)

"""Oedipus Tyrannus still exerts an exceptionally powerful appeal not only for students and scholars, theatre directors and audiences but also - in a variety of languages and adaptations...the author teases out, in a fresh way, the religious implications of Oedipus' reactions to discovering the truth of his identity."" (Dr. P.E. Easterling, Regius Professor Emeritus of Greek, University of Cambridge) ""Prof. Kawashima's interpretation of the Oedipus Tyrannus as a whole clearly shows how the characterization of Oedipus and Jocasta, the dramaturgy, and the thought expressed by the whole structure of the play, are beautifully integrated... this book will be considered one of the great contributions to the study of this most challenging and enigmatic masterpiece of Sophocles' tragedies."" (Dr. Shogo Hirata, Professor of Humanities, Toho University, Tokyo)"""

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