Books in the Duckworth Companions to Greek & Roman Tragedy series

Sophocles' "Women of Trachis" tells the tragic tale of Herakles return home from his labours. This companion to the play provides the social and historical background and employs a number of critical approaches to interpret the major thematic and dramatic issues of the play.

The author discusses whether Orestes' vengeance on his mother for her murder of his father is a just and final act of violence in 'Electra', or whether Sophocles ironically implies that it is more problematic than it seems. He pays particular attention to Electra herself, but also discusses wider issues of Greek ethics.

Aeschylus' "Persians" is the earliest extant Greek tragedy and sole surviving historical tragedy. Produced in 472 BC, the play tells the story of the defeat of the Persian king Xerxes in his attempt to expand his empire by conquering Greece and his return in rags to Persia to face the condemnation of his elders.