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Rating: 
Summary: A Very Good Advanced Commentary on a Great Play
Review: Just in case my review ends up in any and every edition of Oedipus Rex that is sold at Amazon.com, I should make it clear from the start that this is a review of the edition of the play presented in the original Greek, edited and with commentary by R.D. Rawe, which is to be found in the Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics. About the play itself I will say nothing other than it is the greatest play of the greatest playwright of the ancient world. Concerning the text as presented by Dawe, it was interesting to pleasurable to read and compare his own particular edition of the play with that of other editors such as Jebb and Hugh Lloyd-Jones. Unfortunately, not being a scholar of the manuscript tradition, I can say nothing about the judiciousness of his particular editorial choices. Regarding the commentary, I found it excellent, particularly in its explanations of particle combinations and its highlighting of peculiar diction on Sophocles' part. Excellent though it is, I should stress that it is clearly not aimed at students of Greek who are only beginning their study of Greek tragedy, since Dawe passes over in silence much that would be obscure and difficult to inexperienced students. That said, it would still be an interesting and illuminating commentary for a the more inexperienced student so long as he or she used it in conjunction with another commentary oriented to beginners in tragedy -- the best such commentary would be that published in the amazing Bryn Mawr Commentary series. What struck me most about Dawe's commentary was the wonderfully dry sense of humor that expresses itself from time to time. It is the only commentary on an ancient Greek text that I've read which actually had me laughing out loud on a number of occasions. All in all, then, I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Oedipus Review
Review: Oedipus Rex is an older story that is still read today. Many have had to read this story because it is required in a high school course or college course. Oedipus Rex is a story that one could simply hate or love.
Oedipus Rex is a tragic story that deals with a motif of sight and blindess. Predistination also plays a big factor throughout the story. Oedipus was left on a mountain to die because King Lauis was given information from Apollo, the God of Truth. Apollo said that Lauis would be killed by his son, so he got rid of him, or so he thought. The King is killed and Oedipus comes to Thebes and answers the riddle correctly, which places him as the King of Thebes. Oedipus, unbeknown to him, marries his mother, Jocasta. Throughout the story, Oedipus is searching for the person that murdered King Lauis. In the end, Oedipus finds out the truth about himself and the whole ordeal. Oedipus comitted a gruesome act of raking his eyes out.
My thoughts on this story are somewhat mixed. I didn't really care for the story, but it kept my attention. The details such as the ones above helped to keep my attention. I would not choose to read this story, but it was a required reading. All in all, the story wasn't all that bad.
Rating: 
Summary: A Story We've All Heard Before
Review: This is a play full of dramatic and tragic irony. What are the odds of killing your father and marrying your mother without knowing. Oedipus Rex was abandoned as a child because of a prophecy saying he would grow up to kill his father, the king, and marry his mother. He grew up a peasant and one day killed a king who was traveling the opposite way on the same road as he. Obvious to us, this was his father. He later solves a riddle to save the city and is made king. He therefore must marry the queen unbeknown to him as his mother. The truth finally comes out of the mouth of a blind prophet who forsay it all in the beginning. Although you may be forced to read this play in high school or in college it is still a great play to read. It is short and easy to follow and makes for great class discussions.
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