Antigone: A Norton Critical Edition (Norton Critical Editions)

“Murnaghan has rendered Sophocles’ notoriously thorny verse into a text that pulsates with intimacy and immediacy without sacrificing power and nuance, creating a translation that will remain fresh for a very long time. The accompanying material is so thoughtfully curated that the volume as a whole serves as a full introductory course to this extraordinary play and its outsized cultural impact.” –Ella Haselswerdt, University of California, Los Angeles This Norton Critical Edition includes: Sheila Murnaghan’s celebrated new translation of Sophocles’ famed Greek tragedy depicting the deadly conflict between Antigone–daughter of Oedipus–and her uncle Creon, the unyielding new ruler of Thebes. A full introduction exploring the themes and performance history of the play, a detailed note on the translation, and explanatory annotations by Sheila Murnaghan. In “Contexts,” ancient sources translated by Sheila Murnaghan that provide cultural backgrounds and are accompanied by modern perspectives. In “Criticism,” essays on the themes of the play, including perspectives on gender relations, Athenian political institutions, and the legacy of the play in modern adaptations. A chronology and a selected bibliography.