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49 pages 1 hour read

Heracles

Fiction | Play | Adult | BCE

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Book Brief

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Euripides

Heracles

Fiction | Play | Adult | BCE
Book Details
Pages

140

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Thebes • Mythic Ancient Greece

Publication Year

-416

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-18 years

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Super Short Summary

In Heracles by Euripides, the hero Heracles returns from his labors to find his family threatened by the tyrant Lycus, whom he defeats. However, driven mad by the goddess Hera, he tragically kills his own wife and children. Devastated, Heracles considers suicide but is persuaded by his friend Theseus to continue living and seek redemption in Athens. The play contains graphic depictions of violence.

Mysterious

Dark

Melancholic

Emotional

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Euripides’ Heracles examines heroism and madness with emotional depth and tragic intensity. Reviews laud its exploration of family and divine interference, commending the complex character of Heracles. Criticisms include moments of convoluted plot and heavy reliance on deus ex machina. Overall, it's praised for its emotional resonance and dramatic impact.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Heracles?

Readers who enjoy Heracles by Euripides are often fans of classical literature, Greek tragedies, and heroic tales. If you appreciate the complex themes and dramatic intensity found in works like Oedipus Rex by Sophocles or The Iliad by Homer, this play will likely captivate you.

Book Details
Pages

140

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Thebes • Mythic Ancient Greece

Publication Year

-416

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

16-18 years

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