32 pages 1 hour read

Sophocles

Women of Trachis

Fiction | Play | Adult

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Women of Trachis by Sophocles, Deianeira, wife of Heracles, anxiously awaits his return from war. After learning he has captured Iole, a woman he loves, she sends him a robe smeared with the blood of a centaur, believing it will rekindle his love for her. Instead, the robe causes Heracles immense suffering. Misunderstanding her intentions, Heracles curses Deianeira, who later takes her own life.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Sophocles' Women of Trachis elicits mixed reviews, praised for its intense emotional depth and exploration of human suffering. Critics commend its powerful character portrayals and tragic themes. However, some find the plot structure uneven and the pacing slow. This classic tragedy remains a compelling study of love and fate, despite its structural flaws.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Women of Trachis?

Readers who appreciate Greek tragedies and complex character studies will enjoy Sophocles' Women of Trachis. Comparable to those who favor Euripides' Medea or Shakespeare's Othello, this work attracts those interested in themes of fate, passion, and human suffering.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Classic Fiction

Play: Tragedy

Drama / Tragedy

Period

Ancient Greece

Classical Period

Topics

Religion / Spirituality

Themes

Identity: Masculinity

Values/Ideas: Fate