Antigone

The most celebrated plays of ancient Athens—Sophocles’s seven surviving works—in vivid and dynamic new translations. ANTIGONE, translated by award-winning poet Robert Bagg, is one of seven plays Harper Perennial has published as beautifully designed, stand-alone editions.

Powerfully portraying the clash between civic and familial duty—between morality and obedience—Antigone brings the Oedipus Cycle to a conclusion with the story of the tragic hero's eldest daughter Antigone, who courts her own death by defying the edict of Thebes's new ruler, her uncle Kreon, which forbids giving her dishonored brother a proper burial. This is Sophocles, vibrant and alive, a timeless political drama for a new generation.

Why has this ancient play captivated audiences for millennia?
A Foundational Work of Greek Tragedy: The stunning conclusion to the Oedipus Cycle, where the fate of Oedipus’s children unfolds in the shadow of his legacy.Divine Law vs. Human Law: A gripping exploration of morality as Antigone defies the edict of her uncle, King Kreon, to honor the gods and her fallen brother.Timeless Themes: A profound examination of the clash between civic duty and family loyalty, individual conscience and state power, that resonates with modern readers.Vivid Modern Translation: Award-winning poet Robert Bagg renders Sophocles’s masterpiece in dynamic, accessible language that makes this ancient story vibrant and alive for a new generation.