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Trojan Women (Coleridge Translation)

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By: (484 BC - 406 BC)

Trojan Women by Euripides, translated by Coleridge, is a powerful and heartbreaking portrayal of the aftermath of war on the women of Troy. The play explores themes of loss, grief, and the dehumanizing effects of conflict on individuals.

The translation by Coleridge captures the emotional depth and complexity of the original text, bringing the characters to life with vivid language and imagery. The stark contrast between the once-great city of Troy and its current state of destruction is hauntingly depicted, underscoring the sense of tragedy and despair that pervades the play.

The women of Troy are portrayed with nuance and humanity, each grappling with their own personal tragedies in the wake of war. From the grieving Hecuba to the defiant Cassandra, each character adds a layer of depth and emotion to the narrative, making their struggles and suffering feel all the more real and poignant.

Overall, Trojan Women is a stirring and thought-provoking play that sheds light on the often overlooked experiences of women in times of war. Coleridge's translation does justice to Euripides' timeless work, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in classical literature and timeless themes of loss, suffering, and resilience.

Book Description:
Described by modern playwright Ellen McLaughlin as "perhaps the greatest antiwar play ever written," "The Trojan Women," also known as "Troades," is a tragedy by the Greek playwright Euripides. Produced in 415 BC during the Peloponnesian War, it is often considered a commentary on the capture of the Aegean island of Melos and the subsequent slaughter and subjugation of its populace by the Athenians earlier that year. 415 BC was also the year of the scandalous desecration of the hermai and the Athenians' second expedition to Sicily, events which may also have influenced the author. The Trojan Women was the third tragedy of a trilogy dealing with the Trojan War. The first tragedy, Alexandros, was about the recognition of the Trojan prince Paris who had been abandoned in infancy by his parents and rediscovered in adulthood. The second tragedy, Palamedes, dealt with Greek mistreatment of their fellow Greek Palamedes. This trilogy was presented at the Dionysia along with the comedic satyr play Sisyphos. The plots of this trilogy were not connected in the way that Aeschylus' Oresteia was connected. Euripides did not favor such connected trilogies. Euripides won second prize at the City Dionysia for his effort, losing to the obscure tragedian Xenocles. The four Trojan women of the play are the same who appear in the final book of the Iliad lamenting over the corpse of Hector.


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