Drawing on comprehensive analyses of all of Sophocles' plays, Charles Segal examines Sophocles both as a great dramatic poet and as a serious thinker. He shows how Sophoclean tragedy reflects the human condition in its constant and tragic struggle for order and civilized life against the ever-present threat of savagery and chaotic violence. For this edition Segal also provides a new preface discussing recent developments in the study of Sophocles."A very important book about Sophocles, one which uses new techniques of analysis. Everyone, including Sophoclean experts, can learn a very great deal from it". -- Bernard M. W. Knox, Professor Emeritus of Classics and Director Emeritus of the for Hellenic Studies at Harvard University.