Sophocles

Sophocles, one of the most influential writers of Ancient Greece

Sophocles Mission

Interesting Facts

Sophocles Quotes

- Sophocles -

Sophocles brief history

- Plays -

- Classical Dramatists -

Aeschylus

Euripides

- Contact Us -

E-Mail

"Much speech is one thing, well-timed speech is another."

Sophocles

Sophocles Mission

Interesting Facts

Sophocles Quotes

Oedipus the King

Oedipus the King is generally considered his most representative work. Aristotle considered it a perfect tragedy. As well as all his works, this tragedy talks about fatalism, a traditional theme for Greek literature. Something specific to Sophocles is to focus upon the interior life of his characters. This kind of view was to be considered a very modern approach, in fact the early introduction of psycho-analysis technique to the dramatic writings. The plot is about Oedipus, main character, who kills his father and marries his mother in an attempt to avoid the very prophecy he ultimately fulfills.
Oedipus cannot escape his fate, but he finally finds peace, after enduring the worst the fates had to offer. Oedipus still is the most played tragedy of all Greek theater.

Most of the story takes place before the first line of the play. Oedipus, the protagonist or the main character, is the son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes. An oracle predicts that Laius is " doomed/ To perish by the hand of his own son.” After learning this, he decides to deliver Oedipus, his infant son, to a servant, with orders to kill him. But the servant has not got the strength to fulfill the king’s request and, instead abandons the baby in the fields, as the believes the baby's fate has to be decided by the gods.

Continue Oedipus the King >>

Email to a friend

Printer friendly

Oedipus the King - Sophocles