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sicaurigus's review against another edition
3.0
Odysseus wasn't nearly as cool as he was in the Odyssey and Ajax. How disappointing.
I hated the ending. The whole "deus ex machina" thing ruined it for me. Unless "Heracles" was really Odysseus, as some people think, in which case the ending was kinda cool.
I hated the ending. The whole "deus ex machina" thing ruined it for me. Unless "Heracles" was really Odysseus, as some people think, in which case the ending was kinda cool.
_zoe_reads_'s review against another edition
I read the Bryan Doerries translation from “All That You’ve Seen Here is God”
liamgjeninga16's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Compelling rhetorical discourse… that doesn’t really change anything
daniy's review against another edition
5.0
I love the greek plays, I love how everyone is so messy lmao
maggiee's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Like meh
edwardscrowtown's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
chris_dech's review against another edition
3.0
I am, admittedly, a little unsure how to rate this. On the one hand, the premise and plot of Philoctetes are well-crafted and well-executed, as are the characters of Neoptolemus and Philoctetes. On the other hand, the ending is a little rushed, even for a Greek tragedy. And, depending on the day on which you ask me, I would not really call this a tragedy so much as a drama (in the modern sense).
But, on the whole, this is a good play. It explores curious themes of ostracisation, whether justified or not, and the meaning of duty. That second one makes sense since this does have to do with the Trojan War. But I think what really makes this interesting is that it is a sort of proto-utilitarianism, asking whether the ends justify the means, but from the Greek perspective of justice and virtue. Another theme that is echoed in a play like Hekabe is how trauma defines us, and wrongdoings as well (keeping to the same field as the Iliad).
All in all, a good play complicated by truly one of the most rushed and convenient endings I have ever read in Greek drama. Feeling a strong 7 on this one.
But, on the whole, this is a good play. It explores curious themes of ostracisation, whether justified or not, and the meaning of duty. That second one makes sense since this does have to do with the Trojan War. But I think what really makes this interesting is that it is a sort of proto-utilitarianism, asking whether the ends justify the means, but from the Greek perspective of justice and virtue. Another theme that is echoed in a play like Hekabe is how trauma defines us, and wrongdoings as well (keeping to the same field as the Iliad).
All in all, a good play complicated by truly one of the most rushed and convenient endings I have ever read in Greek drama. Feeling a strong 7 on this one.
khlochette's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Néoptolème : "Tu n'as pas à pleurer sur les douleurs d'autrui"
"Tout est objet à répugnance à qui, oubliant sa propre nature, adopte une conduite qui ne lui convient pas"
"Pour un esprit adroit, tes mots manquent d'adresse"
Philoctète : "Aux âmes généreuses l'infamie fait horreur, la vertu seule est leur gloire"
"On ne peut en vouloir à celui qui, égaré par un orage de douleur, en vient à parler déshonore sa raison"
Le Chœur : "Chacun doit défendre son droit pour le mieux, mais aussi s'abstenir, quand il l'a défendu, de pousser la pointe blessante que comporte un haineux langage"
Héraclès : "La gloire d'un mortel pieux ne disparaît pas avec lui : pas plus chez les morts que chez les vivants, jamais elle ne s'éteint"
"Tout est objet à répugnance à qui, oubliant sa propre nature, adopte une conduite qui ne lui convient pas"
"Pour un esprit adroit, tes mots manquent d'adresse"
Philoctète : "Aux âmes généreuses l'infamie fait horreur, la vertu seule est leur gloire"
"On ne peut en vouloir à celui qui, égaré par un orage de douleur, en vient à parler déshonore sa raison"
Le Chœur : "Chacun doit défendre son droit pour le mieux, mais aussi s'abstenir, quand il l'a défendu, de pousser la pointe blessante que comporte un haineux langage"
Héraclès : "La gloire d'un mortel pieux ne disparaît pas avec lui : pas plus chez les morts que chez les vivants, jamais elle ne s'éteint"
elenabass's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
bookwormbillie's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite Sophocles play but features a nice balance of story and lament.