Talk:Three Theban plays

Ordering

My book of Sophocles (going back to the library tomorrow) says that the three Theban plays are unified by nothing besides their subject, and in fact have contradictions. Smack 22:05 4 Jun 2003 (UTC)

Subject, yes, as well as some important themes SparkNotes has a good way of explaining it.

These plays should be written on the main page as Sophokles wrote them, not in the story chronology.

No way. The series definitely has enough significance, enough outside sources, enough real world importance, etc. to merit its own page.Bsimmons666 (talk) 01:55, 7 October 2008 (UTC)

Original research?

I notice that the only sources for this article are the original texts of the trilogy. Much of the textual criticism, therefore, is unsourced and in contravention of WP:OR. I'll try to find some sources--there must be scads of them out there, I'm sure.

As an aside, what do people think of renaming the article? "Three Theban plays" doesn't have much of a ring to it, and I've always heard of these plays as the Theban Trilogy, or occasionally the Oedipus plays. AnturiaethwrTalk 22:13, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

"The Three Theban Plays" is how the Fagles Penguin translation dubs them. I would find "the Theban Trilogy" to be misleading and a poor choice. I don't have a problem with how the article is currently titled. — goethean ॐ 22:31, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Looking at the article more closely, I think that it could be merged with Sophocles, where there is already a section devoted to the topic. I don't see the point of having a separate article on the subject. — goethean ॐ 22:34, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Well, I suppose you're right: a merge would be in order unless and until we get some good, sourced information on these plays' significance other than as works of Sophocles. As for the title, I'd be open to any number of possible titles; "Theban Trilogy" is just a suggestion, based on what my English teacher called it. The section you linked to has "Oedipus Cycle" as an alternate name, for instance, and my copy ("a new translation by Paul Roche," for what it's worth) is titled The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles. I just think anything would be better than "Three Theban plays;" it's far too vague, and there must be a more descriptive title. AnturiaethwrTalk 18:13, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

I think that "Oedipus Cycle" is also misleading and should be avoided, since these plays were each part of seperate trilogies. — goethean ॐ 19:54, 29 May 2008 (UTC)