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| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus Sophocles, 2025-02-13 Vengeance will be taken on the killer, then the land will be clean. The contamination will be washed away. The rains will come and the people will be healed. According to the Oracle, if the murderer of old King Laius is found and punished then all will be well. The people turn to their new ruler, Oedipus, the man who solved the riddle of the Sphinx, to hunt down the perpetrator and bring salvation. He vows to succeed whatever the cost--and so begins an unstoppable pursuit of the truth through a harrowing labyrinth of fear and love. |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus The King Sophocle, 2024-04-20 Oedipus the King by Sophocles is a timeless Greek tragedy that delves into the themes of fate, prophecy, and the consequences of one's actions. The play revolves around Oedipus, a king who unknowingly fulfills a prophecy by killing his father and marrying his mother. As Oedipus embarks on a quest to uncover the truth, he discovers the tragic reality of his own identity. Sophocles weaves a narrative of suspense and revelation, exploring the complexities of free will and the inevitability of destiny in a gripping tale that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus - King of Thebes Sophocles, 2006-05 Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. |
| oedipus the king full play: The Theban Plays Sophocles, 1973-04-26 King Oedipus/Oedipus at Colonus/Antigone Three towering works of Greek tragedy depicting the inexorable downfall of a doomed royal dynasty The legends surrounding the house of Thebes inspired Sophocles to create this powerful trilogy about humanity's struggle against fate. King Oedipus is the devastating portrayal of a ruler who brings pestilence to Thebes for crimes he does not realize he has committed and then inflicts a brutal punishment upon himself. Oedipus at Colonus provides a fitting conclusion to the life of the aged and blinded king, while Antigone depicts the fall of the next generation, through the conflict between a young woman ruled by her conscience and a king too confident of his own authority. Translated with an Introduction by E. F. WATLING |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus at Colonus Sophocles, 2012-05-24 Blamed for the discord within his former kingdom and banished by its citizens, Oedipus wanders for years in lonely exile until he finds a haven in a sacred olive grove at Colonus. |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus Rex Or Oedipus the King: (annotated) (Worldwide Classics) Sophocles, 2019-03-13 Oedipus, King of Thebes, sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to ask advice of the oracle at Delphi, concerning a plague ravaging Thebes. Creon returns to report that the plague is the result of religious pollution, since the murderer of their former king, Laius, has never been caught. Oedipus vows to find the murderer and curses him for causing the plague.Oedipus summons the blind prophet Tiresias for help. When Tiresias arrives he claims to know the answers to Oedipus's questions, but refuses to speak, instead telling him to abandon his search. Oedipus is enraged by Tiresias' refusal, and verbally accuses him of complicity in Laius' murder. Outraged, Tiresias tells the king that Oedipus himself is the murderer (You yourself are the criminal you seek). Oedipus cannot see how this could be, and concludes that the prophet must have been paid off by Creon in an attempt to undermine him. The two argue vehemently, as Oedipus mocks Tiresias' lack of sight, and Tiresias in turn tells Oedipus that he himself is blind. Eventually Tiresias leaves, muttering darkly that when the murderer is discovered he shall be a native citizen of Thebes, brother and father to his own children, and son and husband to his own mother. |
| oedipus the king full play: Sophocles: Oedipus the King David Kovacs, 2020-03-31 Oedipus the King is the best-known play we have from the pen of Sophocles and was recognized as a masterpiece in Aristotle's Poetics, which cites the play more often than any other as an example of how to write tragedy. The principal character is the king of a city ravaged by a mysterious plague, who consults Apollo at Delphi and is told that the plague will end only when those who killed the previous king, Laius, are found and punished. He launches an investigation, in the course of which he learns not only that he is himself the killer, but that Laius was his father and Laius' widow, whom he married, his own mother. As a result of this revelation Oedipus changes from being a respected king and conscientious investigator into a polluted and self-blinded outcast. This volume presents a highly-polished English verse translation of Sophocles' powerful play which renders both the beauty of his language and the horror of the events being dramatized. A detailed introduction and notes clearly elucidate how the plot is constructed and the meaning this construction implies, as well as how Sophocles ably concealed the fact that his characters act in ways which differ from what we expect in real life. It also addresses influential misinterpretations, thereby offering an accessible and authoritative introduction to the play that will be of benefit to a wide range of readers. |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus Rex Sophocles, 2011-04-26 The first in the trilogy of Theban plays by Sophocles, Oedipus Rex depicts one of the most respected Athenian tragedies of all time. |
| oedipus the king full play: The Oedipus Casebook Mark R. Anspach, 2020-02-01 Who killed Laius? Most readers assume Oedipus did. At the play’s end, he stands convicted of murdering his father, marrying his mother, and triggering a deadly plague. With selections from a stellar assortment of critics including Walter Burkert, Terry Eagleton, Michel Foucault, René Girard, and Jean-Pierre Vernant, this book reopens the Oedipus case and lets readers judge for themselves. The Greek word for tragedy means “goat song.” Is Oedipus the goat? Helene Peet Foley calls him “the kind of leader a democracy would both love and desire to ostracize.” The Oedipus Casebook readings weigh the evidence against Oedipus, place the play in the context of Greek scapegoat rites, and explore the origins of tragedy in the festival of Dionysus. This unique critical edition includes a new translation of the play by distinguished classics scholar Wm. Blake Tyrrell and the authoritative Greek text established by H. Lloyd-Jones and N. G. Wilson. |
| oedipus the king full play: Sophocles: Oedipus the King , 2021-07-15 For centuries the myth of Oedipus, the man who unwittingly killed his father and married his mother, has exerted a powerful hold on the human imagination; but no retelling of that myth has ever come close, in passion, drama, and menace to the one that we find in Sophocles' Oedipus the King. This new full-scale edition of that classic play - the first in any language since 1883 - offers a freshly constituted text based on consultation of manuscripts ancient and mediaeval. The Introduction explores the play's dating and production, its creative engagement with pre-Sophoclean versions, its major themes, and its reception during antiquity. The Commentary offers a detailed analysis, line by line and scene by scene, of the play's language, staging, and dramatic impact. The translation incorporated into the commentary ensures that the book will be accessible to all readers interested in what is arguably the greatest Greek tragedy of all. |
| oedipus the king full play: Three Theban Plays Sophocles, 2014-06-26 The tyrant is a child of PrideWho drinks from his sickening cup Recklessness and vanity,Until from his high crest headlongHe plummets to the dust of hope.Theses heroic Greek dramas have moved theatergoers and readers since the fifth century B.C. They tower above other tragedies and have a place on the College Board AP English reading list. |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus the King Sophocles, 1988-03-31 Based on the conviction that only translators who write poetry themselves can properly recreate the celebrated and timeless tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, the Greek Tragedy in New Translations series offers new translations that go beyond the literal meaning of the Greek in order to evoke the sense of poetry evident in the originals. Under the editorship of Peter Burian and Alan Shaprio, each volume includes a critical introduction, commentary on difficult passages, ample stage directions, and a glossary of the mythical names and geographical references encountered in the dialogue. Sophocles' Oedipus the King paves the way as the first in the series to appear in paperback. In this highly-acclaimed translation of the greatest of all Greek tragedies, Stephen Berg--the well-known poet--and Diskin Clay--the distinguished classicist--combine their talents to offer the contemporary reader a dazzling version of Sophocles' timeless work. Emphasizing the intensity of the spoken language, they capture the unrelenting power of Sophoclean drama. No other English translation conveys the same terrifying emotional level, especially in the choral odes, the forceful descriptions of Jokasta's death, the blinding of Oedipus, and the final scene of desolation. Berg and Clay's translation--now available for the first time in paperback--both adheres strictly to the original meaning of the play and breathes new life into its language. |
| oedipus the king full play: Bacchantes Euripides, 1885 |
| oedipus the king full play: Antigone Sophocles, 1853 |
| oedipus the king full play: Sophocles' Oedipus Rex Harold Bloom, 2006 A critical guide to Oedipus rex, Sophocles' Greek tragedy which addresses questions about the power of fate. |
| oedipus the king full play: Favorite Greek Myths Bob Blaisdell, Robert Blaisdell, 1995-01-01 Retells the stories of the Golden Fleece, the Trojan War, Hercules, and other Greek myths. |
| oedipus the king full play: Bootycandy / Barbecue (TCG Edition) Robert O'Hara, 2016-09-13 An outrageously funny new play that explores language, sexuality and identity. |
| oedipus the king full play: The Duchess of Malfi John Webster, 2014-05-01 The Duchess of Malfi is one of the major tragedies of the early modern period and remains popular in the theatre as well as in the classroom. The story of the Duchess's secret marriage and the cruel revenge of her brothers has fascinated and appalled audiences for centuries. This new Arden edition offers readers a comprehensive, illustrated introduction to the play's historical, critical and performance history. The text is modernised and edited to the highest scholarly standards, with textual notes and commentary notes on the same page for ease of reference. This is the lead title in the launch of The Arden Early Modern Drama Series, a series which offers all the depth and quality of thinking long associated with the Arden. The edition will be valued by students, teachers and theatre professionals. |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus at Thebes Bernard Knox, 1998-01-01 Examines the way in which Sophocles' play Oedipus Tyrannus and its hero, Oedipus, King of Thebes, were probably received in their own time and place, and relates this to twentieth-century receptions and interpretations, including those of Sigmund Freud. |
| oedipus the king full play: Tragic Narrative Andreas Markantonatos, 2012-10-24 This study of Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus demonstrates the applicability of narrative models to drama. It presents a major contribution not only to Sophoclean criticism but to dramatic criticism as a whole. For the first time, the methods of contemporary narrative theory are thoroughly applied to the text of a single major play. Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus is presented as a uniquely rich text, which deftly uses the figure and history of the blind Oedipus to explore and thematize some of the basic narratological concerns of Greek tragedy: the relation between the narrow here-and-now of visible stage action and the many off-stage worlds that have to be mediated into it through narrative, including the past, the future, other dramatizations of the myth, and the world of the fifth-century audience. |
| oedipus the king full play: Reading Greek Tragedy Simon Goldhill, 1986-05-08 An advanced critical introduction to Greek tragedy for those who do not read Greek. Combines the best contemporary scholarly analysis of the classics with a wide knowledge of contemporary literary studies in discussing the masterpieces of Athenian drama. |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus the King Sophocles, 2012-12-18 The famed Athenian tragedy in which Oedipus’s own faults contribute to his tragic downfall. A great masterpiece on which Aristotle based his aesthetic theory of drama in the Poetics and from which Freud derived the Oedipus complex, King Oedipus puts out a sentence on the unknown murderer of his father Laius. By a gradual unfolding of incidents, Oedipus learns that he was the assassin and that Jocasta, his wife, is also his mother. This Enriched Classic Edition includes: -A concise introduction that gives readers important background information -Timelines of significant events in Greek history and theater that provide the book’s historical context -An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations -Detailed explanatory notes -Critical analysis and modern perspectives on the work -Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction -A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader’s experience Enriched Classics offers readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full potential. Series edited by Cynthia Brantley Johnson |
| oedipus the king full play: Horace's Ars Poetica Jennifer Ferriss-Hill, 2019-11-12 A major reinterpretation of Horace's famous literary manual For two millennia, the Ars Poetica (Art of Poetry), the 476-line literary treatise in verse with which Horace closed his career, has served as a paradigmatic manual for writers. Rarely has it been considered as a poem in its own right, or else it has been disparaged as a great poet's baffling outlier. Here, Jennifer Ferriss-Hill for the first time fully reintegrates the Ars Poetica into Horace's oeuvre, reading the poem as a coherent, complete, and exceptional literary artifact intimately linked with the larger themes pervading his work. Arguing that the poem can be interpreted as a manual on how to live masquerading as a handbook on poetry, Ferriss-Hill traces its key themes to show that they extend beyond poetry to encompass friendship, laughter, intergenerational relationships, and human endeavor. If the poem is read for how it expresses itself, moreover, it emerges as an exemplum of art in which judicious repetitions of words and ideas join disparate parts into a seamless whole that nevertheless lends itself to being remade upon every reading. Establishing the Ars Poetica as a logical evolution of Horace's work, this book promises to inspire a long overdue reconsideration of a hugely influential yet misunderstood poem. |
| oedipus the king full play: The Oresteia Aeschylus,, 2014-04-24 First performed in 458BC, Aeschylus's trilogy of plays - known collectively as The Oresteia - remains perhaps the great masterpiece of Ancient tragic drama. Telling the bloody story of the House of Atreus, Aeschylus's tragedy stages an eternal debate about justice and revenge that remains relevant more than two millenia later. Now available in the Bloomsbury Revelations series in this classic and authoritative translation by Hugh Lloyd-Jones, this book contains the text of all three plays - Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers and The Eumenides - with extensive scholarly annotation throughout. |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus Rex Sophocles, 1991 One of the greatest of the classic Greek tragedies and a masterpiece of dramatic construction. Catastrophe ensues when King Oedipus discovers he has inadvertently killed his father and married his mother. Masterly use of dramatic irony greatly intensifies impact of agonizing events. Sophocles' finest play, Oedipus Rex ranks as a towering landmark of Western drama. A selection of the Common Core State Standards Initiative. |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus Rex Sophocles, 2011-05-19 Oedipus Rex is the greatest of the Greek tragedies, a profound meditation on the human condition. The story of the mythological king, who is doomed to kill his father and marry his mother, has resonated in world culture for almost 2,500 years. But Sophocles’ drama as originally performed was much more than a great story—it was a superb poetic script and exciting theatrical experience. The actors spoke in pulsing rhythms with hypnotic forward momentum, making it hard for audiences to look away. Interspersed among the verbal rants and duels were energetic songs performed by the chorus. David Mulroy’s brilliant verse translation of Oedipus Rex recaptures the aesthetic power of Sophocles’ masterpiece while also achieving a highly accurate translation in clear, contemporary English. Speeches are rendered with the same kind of regular iambic rhythm that gave the Sophoclean originals their drive. The choral parts are translated as fluid rhymed songs. Mulroy also supplies an introduction, notes, and appendixes to provide helpful context for general readers and students. |
| oedipus the king full play: Sonichu #0 C. C., 2005-03-24 Sonichu #0 is the first issue of Christian Weston Chandler's magnum opus. At this initial stage, the comic was almost entirely about Sonichu and Rosechu, although bits of Chris's life still managed to find their way in.The hand-drawn premiere issue is a special zero issue. In the comics industry, zero issues are used as either a sales-enhancing gimmick (Image Comics is a notable user of this) or a special preview of work that will not truly begin until issue #1. Given that it previews nothing, which one Chris was going for is probably the former, though given that it's not legally able to be sold, it fails even that.The comic consists of Sonichu's first three adventures. In Sonichu's Origin, the core cast of the series is introduced as Sonichu and Rosechu are created. Then, in Genesis of the Lovehogs, the two protagonists meet and immediately fall in love. Finally, in Sonichu vs. Naitsirhc, our yellow hero does battle with his first real villain, who but foreshadows the challenges awaiting the hedgehogs in the following issue. Bonus material in Sonichu #0 includes various advertisements for imaginary Sonichu products, classic Sonichu comic strips drawn outside of the narrative of the main comic book, and the first Sub-Episode. |
| oedipus the king full play: Hippolytus Euripides, 1962 |
| oedipus the king full play: Screen Plays Amanda Wrigley, John Wyver, 2022-03-29 Screen plays is a ground-breaking volume thatchronicles the rich and surprising history of stage plays produced for the small screen between 1930 and today. The collection makes a compelling case for the centrality of the theatre to the past and present of British television drama. |
| oedipus the king full play: Ten Plays Euripides, 2004-07-12 |
| oedipus the king full play: The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles Sophocles, 2015-08-11 The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone Oedipus the King Oedipus the King , also known by its Latin title Oedipus Rex, is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed about 429 BC. It was the second in order of Sophocles's composition of his three Theban Plays dealing with Oedipus. Thematically, however, it was the first in the plays' historical chronology, followed by Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone. Oedipus the King tells the story of Oedipus, a man who becomes the king of Thebes, whilst in the process unwittingly fulfilling a prophecy that he would kill his father Laius and marry his mother Jocasta. The play is an example of classic tragedy, putting emphasis upon how Oedipus's own faults contribute to his downfall (as opposed to the portrayal of fate as the sole cause). Over the centuries, Oedipus the King has come to be regarded by many as the masterpiece of Greek tragedy. Oedipus at Colonus This is the second installment in Sophocles's Theban Plays that chronicles the tragic fates of Oedipus and his family. After fulfilling the prophecy that predicted he would kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus blinds himself and leaves Thebes, to wander in the wilderness accompanied by his daughters Antigone and Ismene. Antigone This is the final installment in Sophocles's Theban Plays, following Oedipus Rex and Oedipus at Colonus. Oedipus's daughter Antigone deliberately breaks the laws of Thebes when she buries her brother's body and is sentenced to death. She clashes with Creon, the King of Thebes, over what constitutes justice and morality: the laws of the state or the laws of the individual. |
| oedipus the king full play: The Odyssey, Oedipus, and Others Or Greek Story Theatre Stacey Coates, Rosalind Flynn, 2009-10-02 Four well-loved tales -- The Odyssey, Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone -- are brought to life in this hilarious and accessible collection of short adaptations. With a large, funny chorus of narrators, several songs and raps, and even some cheerleading, The Odyssey, Oedipus, and Others offers a brand new look at age-old classics. |
| oedipus the king full play: Sophocles Plays: 1 Sophocles,, 2014-10-10 Includes the plays Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone, collectively known as the Theban plays. Starting with Oedipus the King and ending with the ultimate sacrifice of Antigone, his daughter the plays follow the trials of a family cursed by the edict of an oracle that you will kill your father and marry with your mother. From the fourth century BC - when Aristotle took Oedipus the King as his model tragedy, the influence of Sophocles' great plays has been assured. These three great tragedies have a relevance and immediacy as metaphors for some of the most fundamentally held beliefs and values in our culture.This volume contains the Theban plays - widely studied in schools and universities. Translated and with an introduction and notes from Don Taylor - the playwright who directed these plays for BBC TV |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus King of Thebes Sophocles, 2021-12-24 Oedipus King of Thebes Sophocles - Oedipus Rex, also known by its Greek title, Oedipus Tyrannus (Ancient Greek: , pronounced [oidípos týrannos]), or Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed around 429 BC. Originally, to the ancient Greeks, the title was simply Oedipus (), as it is referred to by Aristotle in the Poetics. It is thought to have been renamed Oedipus Tyrannus to distinguish it from another of Sophocles's plays, Oedipus at Colonus. In antiquity, the term tyrant referred to a ruler with no legitimate claim to rule, but it did not necessarily have a negative connotation |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus Plays of Sophocles Sophocles, 1996-05 For use in schools and libraries only. Includes the Theban Trilogy: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. A revised and updated translation by Paul Roche. |
| oedipus the king full play: King Oedipus Sophocles, 2015-08-24 Widely regarded as one of the greatest Greek tragedies, 'King Oedipus' (or 'Oedipus Rex') is the first play in the Oedipus trilogy (followed by 'Oedipus at Colonus' and then 'Antigone'). After defeating the Sphinx and freeing the kingdom of Thebes from her curse, the flawed hero unwittingly fulfills a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. |
| oedipus the king full play: Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone Sophocles, 2019-11-20 In Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone, the esteemed playwright weaves a tapestry of fate, duty, and moral conflict, reflecting the complexities of human existence and the inexorable nature of destiny. The literary style exemplifies the classical Greek tragic form, characterized by compelling dialogue and profound philosophical inquiry. Each play serves not only as a dramatic narrative but also as a thematic exploration of ethical dilemmas faced by individuals in their struggle against societal expectations and divine will, thereby resonating through the ages in its exploration of human suffering and enlightenment. Sophocles, an eminent figure of ancient Greek literature, lived through a period of considerable political and cultural upheaval that influenced his works. His innovative use of character development and introduction of a third actor in the dramatic form exemplify his desire to deepen the exploration of human emotion and agency in the face of fate. Having personally witnessed the effects of war and tragedy in Athenian society, Sophocles' plays convey profound insights into the human condition, drawing on both personal and collective experiences of his time. This compilation is highly recommended for anyone seeking a deep understanding of classical tragedy and its relevance in contemporary discourse. Each play stands as a testament to Sophocles' genius and offers a rich dialogue on morality and human experience that remains pertinent to modern audiences. |
| oedipus the king full play: The Oedipus Plays Sophocles, 1996-09 Get your A in gear They're today's most popular study guides-with everything you need to succeed in school. Written by Harvard students for students, since its inception SparkNotes(TM) has developed a loyal community of dedicated users and become a major education brand. Consumer demand has been so strong that the guides have expanded to over 150 titles. SparkNotes'(TM) motto is Smarter, Better, Faster because: - They feature the most current ideas and themes, written by experts. - They're easier to understand, because the same people who use them have also written them. - The clear writing style and edited content enables students to read through the material quickly, saving valuable time. And with everything covered--context; plot overview; character lists; themes, motifs, and symbols; summary and analysis, key facts; study questions and essay topics; and reviews and resources--you don't have to go anywhere else |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus the King Sophocles, 2018-07-03 Sophocles: Oedipus The King translated by F. Storr. First published in 1912. Classic Greek Tragedy. Oedipus Rex, also known by its Greek title, Oedipus Tyrannus, or Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed around 429 BC. To Laius, King of Thebes, an oracle foretold that the child born to him by his queen Jocasta would slay his father and wed his mother. So when in time a son was born the infant's feet were riveted together and he was left to die on Mount Cithaeron. But a shepherd found the babe and tended him, and delivered him to another shepherd who took him to his master, the King of Corinth. Polybus being childless adopted the boy, who grew up believing that he was indeed the King's son. Afterwards doubting his parentage he inquired of the Delphic god and heard himself the word declared before to Laius. Wherefore he fled from what he deemed his father's house and in his flight he encountered and unwillingly slew his father Laius. Arriving at Thebes he answered the riddle of the Sphinx and the grateful Thebans made their deliverer king. So he reigned in the room of Laius, and espoused the widowed queen. Children were born to them and Thebes prospered under his rule, but again a grievous plague fell upon the city. Again the oracle was consulted and it bade them purge themselves of blood-guiltiness. Oedipus denounces the crime of which he is unaware, and undertakes to track out the criminal. Step by step it is brought home to him that he is the man. The closing scene reveals Jocasta slain by her own hand and Oedipus blinded by his own act and praying for death or exile. |
| oedipus the king full play: Oedipus The King Sophocle, 2023-06-15 Oedipus Rex, also known by its Greek title, Oedipus Tyrannus (Ancient Greek: Οἰδίπους Τύραννος, pronounced [oidípoːs týrannos]), or Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed around 429 BC.[1] Originally, to the ancient Greeks, the title was simply Oedipus (Οἰδίπους), as it is referred to by Aristotle in the Poetics. It is thought to have been renamed Oedipus Tyrannus to distinguish it from Oedipus at Colonus, a later play by Sophocles. In antiquity, the term tyrant referred to a ruler with no legitimate claim to rule, but it did not necessarily have a negative connotation.[2][3][4] Of Sophocles' three Theban plays that have survived, and that deal with the story of Oedipus, Oedipus Rex was the second to be written, following Antigone by about a dozen years. However, in terms of the chronology of events described by the plays, it comes first, followed by Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone. Prior to the start of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus has become the king of Thebes while unwittingly fulfilling a prophecy that he would kill his father, Laius (the previous king), and marry his mother, Jocasta (whom Oedipus took as his queen after solving the riddle of the Sphinx). The action of Sophocles's play concerns Oedipus's search for the murderer of Laius in order to end a plague ravaging Thebes, unaware that the killer he is looking for is none other than himself. At the end of the play, after the truth finally comes to light, Jocasta hangs herself while Oedipus, horrified at his patricide and incest, proceeds to gouge out his own eyes in despair. In his Poetics, Aristotle refers several times to the play in order to exemplify aspects of the genre. |
Oedipus - Mythopedia
May 15, 2023 · Though Oedipus is perhaps best known through Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus Tyrannus, there were many different sources for his myth circulating in the ancient world. …
Sphinx – Mythopedia
Mar 25, 2023 · When the Sphinx posed her riddle, Oedipus reasoned that humans walk on all fours as infants, on two legs as adults, and on three legs—their two legs and a cane—when …
Eteocles – Mythopedia
Oct 2, 2023 · Eteocles was a son of Oedipus, though he and his brother Polynices were both cursed by their father for dishonoring him. When Eteocles failed to respect a prior agreement …
Ismene – Mythopedia
Aug 23, 2023 · Ismene was a princess of Thebes, one of the children born from Oedipus’ incestuous marriage to his mother Jocasta. Her siblings were Antigone , Eteocles, and …
Antigone – Mythopedia
Feb 15, 2023 · Antigone, at least in most traditions, was one of the children born from Oedipus’ incestuous union with his mother Jocasta. She was a model of filial devotion, helping her ailing …
Tiresias – Mythopedia
Feb 27, 2023 · Soon after, Oedipus realizes that not only did he kill Laius, but Laius was his father. Since he had married Laius’ wife Jocasta after the murder, Oedipus is left to …
Apollo – Mythopedia
Apr 11, 2023 · In Oedipus Tyrannus (ca. 430 BCE), for example, it is Apollo’s oracle who initiates the action of the tragedy. And in Electra (probably 410s BCE), it is Apollo who reportedly tells …
Erinyes (Furies) – Mythopedia
Mar 9, 2023 · Eventually, after the truth was revealed and Oedipus was ruined, he sent the Erinyes against his own sons Eteocles and Polyneices as punishment for dishonoring him. In …
Cadmus - Mythopedia
Jul 10, 2023 · Cadmus was the founder of the city of Thebes and served as its first king. At the end of his life, he was transformed into a serpent as punishment for failing to honor the gods.
Pentheus – Mythopedia
Jul 21, 2023 · The surviving literature does not name Pentheus’ wife, but there was evidently a tradition in which he had a son named Oclasus. This Oclasus was the father of Menoeceus, …
Oedipus - Mythopedia
May 15, 2023 · Though Oedipus is perhaps best known through Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus Tyrannus, there were …
Sphinx – Mythopedia
Mar 25, 2023 · When the Sphinx posed her riddle, Oedipus reasoned that humans walk on all fours as infants, …
Eteocles – Mythopedia
Oct 2, 2023 · Eteocles was a son of Oedipus, though he and his brother Polynices were both cursed by their …
Ismene – Mythopedia
Aug 23, 2023 · Ismene was a princess of Thebes, one of the children born from Oedipus’ incestuous marriage to his …
Antigone – Mythopedia
Feb 15, 2023 · Antigone, at least in most traditions, was one of the children born from Oedipus’ incestuous union with …
