LACLTR - Sophocle's Trachiniae

Course Description

An under-read play of Sophocles, the Trachiniae contains one of his most modern and moving characters. Deianeira (Husband-Slayer) lives from one terror to the next: that shell never again see her husband, the famed Heracles; that his recent success and homecoming might leads to his downfall; that she is about to displaced in her husbands affections by the captured Iole. The Trachiniae (and not the Oedipus) is arguably Sophocles most Freudian play. Well read about 130 lines of the play a week in Greek, with minimal recourse to secondary literature. Notes: At least one year of Greek is required, but students are welcome to prepare the Greek at their own pace. Please read as much of the first 100 lines of Book 6 in Greek as you can before the first class.