essay about oedipus rex

Literary Theory and Criticism

Home › Drama Criticism › Analysis of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex

Analysis of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on July 27, 2020 • ( 0 )

The place of the Oedipus Tyrannus in literature is something like that of the Mona Lisa in art. Everyone knows the story, the first detective story of Western literature; everyone who has read or seen it is drawn into its enigmas and moral dilemmas. It presents a kind of nightmare vision of a world suddenly turned upside down: a decent man discovers that he has unknowingly killed his father, married his mother, and sired children by her. It is a story that, as Aristotle says in the Poetics , makes one shudder with horror and feel pity just on hearing it. In Sophocles’ hands, however, this ancient tale becomes a profound meditation on the questions of guilt and responsibility, the order (or disorder) of our world, and the nature of man. The play stands with the Book of Job, Hamlet, and King Lear as one of Western literature’s most searching examinations of the problem of suffering.

—Charles Segal, Oedipus Tyrannus: Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge

No other drama has exerted a longer or stronger hold on the imagination than Sophocles’ Oedipus the King (also known as Oedipus Tyrannus or Oedipus Rex ). Tragic drama that is centered on the dilemma of a single central character largely begins with Sophocles and is exemplified by his Oedipus, arguably the most influential play ever written. The most famous of all Greek dramas, Sophocles’ play, supported by Aristotle in the Poetics, set the standard by which tragedy has been measured for nearly two-and-a-half millennia. For Aristotle, Sophocles’ play featured the ideal tragic hero in Oedipus, a man of “great repute and good fortune,” whose fall, coming from his horrifying discovery that he has killed his father and married his mother, is masterfully arranged to elicit tragedy’s proper cathartic mixture of pity and terror. The play’s relentless exploration of human nature, destiny, and suffering turns an ancient tale of a man’s shocking history into one of the core human myths. Oedipus thereby joins a select group of fictional characters, including Odysseus, Faust, Don Juan, and Don Quixote, that have entered our collective consciousness as paradigms of humanity and the human condition. As classical scholar Bernard Knox has argued, “Sophocles’ Oedipus is not only the greatest creation of a major poet and the classic representative figure of his age: he is also one of a long series of tragic protagonists who stand as symbols of human aspiration and despair before the characteristic dilemma of Western civilization—the problem of man’s true stature, his proper place in the universe.”

For nearly 2,500 years Sophocles’ play has claimed consideration as drama’s most perfect and most profound achievement. Julius Caesar wrote an adaptation; Nero allegedly acted the part of the blind Oedipus. First staged in a European theater in 1585, Oedipus has been continually performed ever since and reworked by such dramatists as Pierre Corneille, John Dryden, Voltaire, William Butler Yeats, André Gide, and Jean Cocteau. The French neoclassical tragedian Jean Racine asserted that Oedipus was the ideal tragedy, while D. H. Lawrence regarded it as “the finest drama of all time.” Sigmund Freud discovered in the play the key to understanding man’s deepest and most repressed sexual and aggressive impulses, and the so-called Oedipus complex became one of the founding myths of psychoanalysis. Oedipus has served as a crucial mirror by which each subsequent era has been able to see its own reflection and its understanding of the mystery of human existence.

If Aeschylus is most often seen as the great originator of ancient Greek tragedy and Euripides is viewed as the great outsider and iconoclast, it is Sophocles who occupies the central position as classical tragedy’s technical master and the age’s representative figure over a lifetime that coincided with the rise and fall of Athens’s greatness as a political and cultural power in the fifth century b.c. Sophocles was born in 496 near Athens in Colonus, the legendary final resting place of the exiled Oedipus. At the age of 16, Sophocles, an accomplished dancer and lyre player, was selected to lead the celebration of the victory over the Persians at the battle of Salamis, the event that ushered in Athens’s golden age. He died in 406, two years before Athens’s fall to Sparta, which ended nearly a century of Athenian supremacy and cultural achievement. Very much at the center of Athenian public life, Sophocles served as a treasurer of state and a diplomat and was twice elected as a general. A lay priest in the cult of a local deity, Sophocles also founded a literary association and was an intimate of such prominent men of letters as Ion of Chios, Herodotus, and Archelaus. Urbane, garrulous, and witty, Sophocles was remembered fondly by his contemporaries as possessing all the admired qualities of balance and tranquillity. Nicknamed “the Bee” for his “honeyed” style of fl owing eloquence—the highest compliment the Greeks could bestow on a poet or speaker—Sophocles was regarded as the tragic Homer.

In marked contrast to his secure and stable public role and private life, Sophocles’ plays orchestrate a disturbing challenge to assurance and certainty by pitting vulnerable and fallible humanity against the inexorable forces of nature and destiny. Sophocles began his career as a playwright in 468 b.c. with a first-prize victory over Aeschylus in the Great, or City, Dionysia, the annual Athenian drama competition. Over the next 60 years he produced more than 120 plays (only seven have survived intact), winning first prize at the Dionysia 24 times and never earning less than second place, making him unquestionably the most successful and popular playwright of his time. It is Sophocles who introduced the third speaking actor to classical drama, creating the more complex dramatic situations and deepened psychological penetration through interpersonal relationships and dialogue. “Sophocles turned tragedy inward upon the principal actors,” classicist Richard Lattimore has observed, “and drama becomes drama of character.” Favoring dramatic action over narration, Sophocles brought offstage action onto the stage, emphasized dialogue rather than lengthy, undramatic monologues, and purportedly introduced painted scenery. Also of note, Sophocles replaced the connected trilogies of Aeschylus with self-contained plays on different subjects at the same contest, establishing the norm that has continued in Western drama with its emphasis on the intensity and unity of dramatic action. At their core, Sophocles’ tragedies are essentially moral and religious dramas pitting the tragic hero against unalterable fate as defined by universal laws, particular circumstances, and individual temperament. By testing his characters so severely, Sophocles orchestrated adversity into revelations that continue to evoke an audience’s capacity for wonder and compassion.

The story of Oedipus was part of a Theban cycle of legends that was second only to the stories surrounding the Trojan War as a popular subject for Greek literary treatment. Thirteen different Greek dramatists, including Aeschylus and Euripides, are known to have written plays on the subject of Oedipus and his progeny. Sophocles’ great innovation was to turn Oedipus’s horrifying circumstances into a drama of self-discovery that probes the mystery of selfhood and human destiny.

The play opens with Oedipus secure and respected as the capable ruler of Thebes having solved the riddle of the Sphinx and gained the throne and Thebes’s widowed queen, Jocasta, as his reward. Plague now besets the city, and Oedipus comes to Thebes’s rescue once again when, after learning from the oracle of Apollo that the plague is a punishment for the murder of his predecessor, Laius, he swears to discover and bring the murderer to justice. The play, therefore, begins as a detective story, with the key question “Who killed Laius?” as the initial mystery. Oedipus initiates the first in a seemingly inexhaustible series of dramatic ironies as the detective who turns out to be his own quarry. Oedipus’s judgment of banishment for Laius’s murderer seals his own fate. Pledged to restore Thebes to health, Oedipus is in fact the source of its affliction. Oedipus’s success in discovering Laius’s murderer will be his own undoing, and the seemingly percipient, riddle-solving Oedipus will only see the truth about himself when he is blind. To underscore this point, the blind seer Teiresias is summoned. He is reluctant to tell what he knows, but Oedipus is adamant: “No man, no place, nothing will escape my gaze. / I will not stop until I know it all.” Finally goaded by Oedipus to reveal that Oedipus himself is “the killer you’re searching for” and the plague that afflicts Thebes, Teiresias introduces the play’s second mystery, “Who is Oedipus?”

You have eyes to see with, But you do not see yourself, you do not see The horror shadowing every step of your life, . . . Who are your father and mother? Can you tell me?

Oedipus rejects Teiresias’s horrifying answer to this question—that Oedipus has killed his own father and has become a “sower of seed where your father has sowed”—as part of a conspiracy with Jocasta’s brother Creon against his rule. In his treatment of Teiresias and his subsequent condemning of Creon to death, Oedipus exposes his pride, wrath, and rush to judgment, character flaws that alloy his evident strengths of relentless determination to learn the truth and fortitude in bearing the consequences. Jocasta comes to her brother’s defense, while arguing that not all oracles can be believed. By relating the circumstances of Laius’s death, Jocasta attempts to demonstrate that Oedipus could not be the murderer while ironically providing Oedipus with the details that help to prove the case of his culpability. In what is a marvel of ironic plot construction, each step forward in answering the questions surrounding the murder and Oedipus’s parentage takes Oedipus a step back in time toward full disclosure and self-discovery.

As Oedipus is made to shift from self-righteous authority to doubt, a messenger from Corinth arrives with news that Oedipus’s supposed father, Poly-bus, is dead. This intelligence seems again to disprove the oracle that Oedipus is fated to kill his father. Oedipus, however, still is reluctant to return home for fear that he could still marry his mother. To relieve Oedipus’s anxiety, the messenger reveals that he himself brought Oedipus as an infant to Polybus. Like Jocasta whose evidence in support of Oedipus’s innocence turns into confirmation of his guilt, the messenger provides intelligence that will connect Oedipus to both Laius and Jocasta as their son and as his father’s killer. The messenger’s intelligence produces the crucial recognition for Jocasta, who urges Oedipus to cease any further inquiry. Oedipus, however, persists, summoning the herdsman who gave the infant to the messenger and was coincidentally the sole survivor of the attack on Laius. The herdsman’s eventual confirmation of both the facts of Oedipus’s birth and Laius’s murder produces the play’s staggering climax. Aristotle would cite Sophocles’ simultaneous con-junction of Oedipus’s recognition of his identity and guilt with his reversal of fortune—condemned by his own words to banishment and exile as Laius’s murderer—as the ideal artful arrangement of a drama’s plot to produce the desired cathartic pity and terror.

The play concludes with an emphasis on what Oedipus will now do after he knows the truth. No tragic hero has fallen further or faster than in the real time of Sophocles’ drama in which the time elapsed in the play coincides with the performance time. Oedipus is stripped of every illusion of his authority, control, righteousness, and past wisdom and is forced to contend with a shame that is impossible to expiate—patricide and incestual relations with his mother—in a world lacking either justice or alleviation from suffering. Oedipus’s heroic grandeur, however, grows in his diminishment. Fundamentally a victim of circumstances, innocent of intentional sin whose fate was preordained before his birth, Oedipus refuses the consolation of blamelessness that victimization confers, accepting in full his guilt and self-imposed sentence as an outcast, criminal, and sinner. He blinds himself to confirm the moral shame that his actions, unwittingly or not, have provoked. It is Oedipus’s capacity to endure the revelation of his sin, his nature, and his fate that dominates the play’s conclusion. Oedipus’s greatest strengths—his determination to know the truth and to accept what he learns—sets him apart as one of the most pitiable and admired of tragic heroes. “The closing note of the tragedy,” Knox argues, “is a renewed insistence on the heroic nature of Oedipus; the play ends as it began, with the greatness of the hero. But it is a different kind of greatness. It is now based on knowledge, not, as before on ignorance.” The now-blinded Oedipus has been forced to see and experience the impermanence of good fortune, the reality of unimaginable moral shame, and a cosmic order that is either perverse in its calculated cruelty or chaotically random in its designs, in either case defeating any human need for justice and mercy.

The Chorus summarizes the harsh lesson of heroic defeat that the play so majestically dramatizes:

Look and learn all citizens of Thebes. This is Oedipus. He, who read the famous riddle, and we hailed chief of men, All envied his power, glory, and good fortune. Now upon his head the sea of disaster crashes down. Mortality is man’s burden. Keep your eyes fixed on your last day. Call no man happy until he reaches it, and finds rest from suffering.

Few plays have dealt so unflinchingly with existential truths or have as bravely defined human heroism in the capacity to see, suffer, and endure.

Greek Tragedy Lecture Series

Oedipus Rex Ebook PDF (16 MB)

Oedipus the King

Table of contents.

Tiresias says to Oedipus, “Creon is not your downfall, no, you are your own.” What is the extent of Oedipus’ guilt in his own downfall?

“Oedipus the King demonstrates that the quest for truth only leads to self-destruction.” Discuss.
What does the play have to say about fate and free will?
“The play is about Oedipus’ search for his identity.” Discuss.
“What should a man fear? It’s all about chance, / chance rules our lives.” Discuss Jocasta’s philosophy about life.
Discuss the dual role of the Chorus.
What do the choral odes have to say about the relationship between humans and the gods?
What are Oedipus’ feelings about family?
Evidence Bank

Oedipus the King is a classic Greek tragedy by Sophocles about the downfall of Oedipus, a heroic yet ill-fated character who was prophesied to slay his father and marry his mother. Oedipus finds himself caught in a dilemma between his determination to unwind the tangled threads of his history, or avoid undermining everything he knows about his life. The premise of the ancient play reminds audiences of the cruel nature of fate and the importance of making good decisions. Yet Oedipus himself is a complex character who does his best to exercise free choice within the restraints of his fate, which lends itself to the argument surrounding the extent of his guilt in his eventual downfall. To a large extent, Oedipus is responsible for his horrible actions that drive him to fulfil the prophecy given to him at birth, such as his violent nature which drives him to slay his father, as well as his incessant drive to seek the truth about himself. Yet as the ancient Greeks would have it, despite taking extensive manoeuvres to avoid his terrible future, Oedipus may have been a prisoner of his own fate and thus remain guiltless.

Oedipus the King, a timeless Greek tragedy penned by Sophocles, unfolds the tragic descent of Oedipus, a heroic figure ensnared in the ominous prophecy of patricide and matrimony with his mother/incest. Confronted with the formidable choice between unraveling the intricacies of his lineage and preserving the foundation of his perceived reality, Oedipus grapples with a profound dilemma. The narrative serves as a poignant reminder of the inexorable cruelty of destiny and the consequential significance of judicious decision-making.Oedipus, a character of intricate depth, endeavors to wield volition amidst the constricting threads of his foretold destiny, thereby fueling debates about the degree of culpability in his eventual downfall. While Oedipus bears considerable responsibility for the grievous deeds that propel him toward the fulfillment of his preordained fate—such as his proclivity for violence leading to the slaying of his parents—he also exhibits an unwavering determination to unveil the veracity of his existence.Yet, adhering to the ancient Greek ethos, Oedipus, despite his concerted efforts to circumvent the ominous prophecy, remains ensnared in the inexorable web of fate, prompting contemplation about his potential innocence. In essence, Oedipus, despite his extensive manoeuvres to avert a calamitous destiny, emerges as a captive of his predetermined path, thereby challenging conventional notions of guilt and culpability.

Oedipus’ violent and aggressive nature, as shown by his various impulsive actions, can be said to be a defining factor which led him to the actions of his downfall. Even considering the audience’s knowledge of his horrible fate, there is no question that his nature lends itself to his questionable actions. For example, Oedipus testifies to Jocasta that the man he killed, Laius, was “accompanied by a herald”, thus announcing to the world that he was a king. Yet Oedipus, despite having been raised as royalty himself, does not hold himself back in the slaughter of Laius, the herald, and multiple others. This can be interpreted in several ways: either his impulsivity and pride led him to rashly kill Laius and his followers, thus cementing his guilt in his own fate, or that the threads of fate led him to make that decision in that moment. Either way, there is little doubt that it was simply part of Oedipus’ nature, as there is little other justification for his violent actions. In a similar way, his dogged determination to uncover the truth of his past turns him hostile and abusive, revealing his hubris; when Tiresias does tell him the truth about what he seeks, he does not listen as he is consumed by paranoia. His aberrant character flaws are thus determinant of his guilt in his own downfall.

Oedipus’ propensity for violence and aggression, manifested through impulsive actions, emerges as a pivotal factor contributing to his eventual downfall. Despite the audience’s awareness of his inexorable fate, there is an unequivocal acknowledgment that his inherent nature propels him towards morally ambiguous deeds. Notably, Oedipus, while recounting to Jocasta the slaying of Laius, explicitly highlights the regal stature of his victim, accompanied by a herald. Paradoxically, even though Oedipus himself was nurtured in royal surroundings, he fails to restrain his carnage, perpetrating the ruthless murder of Laius, the herald, and others. This dichotomy invites interpretations that either his impetuosity and pride precipitated the hasty annihilation, cementing his culpability in his tragic destiny, or that the inexorable threads of fate coerced him into that fateful decision.Moreover, Oedipus’ unwavering commitment to unraveling the truth of his origins transforms him into a hostile and abusive figure, laying bare the depths of his hubris. When Tiresias imparts the veracious revelation he seeks, Oedipus, ensnared by paranoia, remains deaf to reason. His anomalous character flaws thus serve as decisive elements substantiating his complicity in the tragic unraveling of his own fate.

In addition to his violent nature, Oedipus’ incessant seeking of the truth also leads him to his downfall. As the play opens, the audience learns that Oedipus is at the height of his success, as he had already become a great ruler of Thebes, revered by many for “defeating the Sphinx”. This only lends itself to demonstrate the great downfall that he will face at the hands of his own curiosity. Later, when Jocasta tells the tale of Laius’ death to Oedipus, he begins to doubt himself, in that he is indeed the murderer he is seeking. However, despite understanding the consequences, this does nothing to stop the momentum of his investigation. Oedipus refuses to consider Jocasta’s advice that he “live at random, best we can” and according to chance. Instead, he is so fixated on getting to the bottom of the truth by calling for the old shepherd who saved him when he was a baby. Oedipus is aware of the consequences, that “if he refers to one man, one alone, / clearly the scales come down on me: / I am guilty”. Even as the shepherd, like Tiresias, demonstrates reluctance to tell Oedipus what he knows, he insists that the truth must come out. Moreover, when Jocasta collapses in despair, Oedipus remains fervent in his determination to discover his true identity, proclaiming that “I must know it all, / must see the truth at last”. In the end, it is this unwavering confidence and determination for the truth that ultimately leads him to his downfall.

However, despite these interpretations, it can also be said that Oedipus was merely a prisoner of his own fate, indicating that all the questionable actions he took were merely part of his destiny, no matter how hard he tried to avoid it. Through this interpretation, Oedipus is guiltless as there was no way to avoid his fate. Many attempts to avoid Oedipus’ tragic fate appear in the play, yet he still fulfilled it regardless. Jocasta and Laius cast him out as a mere infant; Oedipus exiles himself from his adopted parents in fear that ill would befall them (and not his birth parents). Yet it is fate that drives him towards Thebes and to the crossroads where he slew Laius, where there was no reason to kill Laius, but he was driven to do so anyway. Fate rewards him cruelly with Jocasta as a wife after besting the Sphinx. Lastly, fate drives him to pursue the truth of his past, driving home the final punishment of exile and blindness set by himself. There appeared the illusion of free will in his choices, but Oedipus was ultimately driven to make horrible choices which resulted in the fulfillment of the prophecy. Hence, Sophocles presents the cruel reality that even though characters may take extensive manoeuvres to avoid committing the crimes of their fate, they will be compelled to commit abhorrent acts in order to fulfill their destinies.

Overall, Oedipus himself is a complex character: the extent of his guilt depends on how much the audience places value on his personal choices or the prison of his fate. It is true that his nature lends itself to the interpretation of his own guilt in his actions. However, given the context of ancient Greece where individuals were commonly understood to be prisoner of their own fate, there may have been no way for him to avoid the consequences. Hence, while Oedipus was ill-fated from birth, Sophocles aimed to imbue audiences with the moral that one’s choices are highly important to the outcome of their lives.

“ Oedipus the King demonstrates that the quest for truth only leads to self-destruction. ” Discuss.

“Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles Play Analysis Essay

To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
As a template for you assignment

Oedipus Rex, also known as Oedipus the King, is a play authored by Sophocles. It was first performed in 429 BC in Athens, Greece (Knox 133). The play is the second of several Sophocles’ plays, and has been regarded as an excellent piece by many scholars (Belfiore 176). This report will highlight about the author, discuss the setting of, and the theme of fate in the play, before giving personal impression about the play.

The play is about Oedipus the king. He is respected by his people, but falls disgracefully from power. Its unravels an oracle such that Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother unknowingly. The plan to kill Oedipus takes a twist when his mother and the servant refuses to kill him, allowing the opportunity to live and later to fulfill the oracles. The life of Oedipus is saved the second time when a shepherd finds him and hands him over to King of Corinth for adoption. Oedipus grows without knowing his biological parents. He learns of the oracle and wishes to avert it only to allow fate take its course. Oedipus meets his father and kills him while escaping from that fate, and later marries his mother. He also saves the people by solving a riddle and fulfills the oracle that the murderer of King Loius would be revealed.

Sophocles was among the Greek’s great playwrights (Belfiore 176). He was born in 495 B.C near the town of Athens and received the best education in his time. He majored in arts. He was influential and many people liked him. His career had began at an early age when he participated at a competition and took the first prize. This is when he used his skills to include characters in a play by reducing its chorus. Sophocles wrote over one hundred and twenty plays but only seven have been successful. These are Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex), Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone, The Women of Trachis, Electra, Ajax and Philoctetes.

The setting of the play is in Thebes city, which is portrayed as a city in crisis; the city is struck by a plague (Sophocles 22-32). The palace of Oedipus as well as the altar of Zeus features in much of the play. In general, this setting characterizes the whole of Oedepus (Sophocles 51).

Fate is a main theme in Oedipus Rex, and is plainly indicated in the play. The characters believes in fate. The mother of Oedipus, Queen Jocasta, believes in the fate that Oedipus would kill King Lauis (Sophocles 711-714). Oedipus also believes in the same fate and runs away from his guardians to avoid killing them (Sophocles 791-793). Thus, Sophocles allows the characters to reveal the theme of fate to the reader. Fate is also largely demonstrated by the oracles in the play.

The theme of fate is demonstrate in the unavoidability of the oracles. The prophecy that Oedipus would commit adultery with his mother and murder his own father comes true, even when Oedipus’ parents plans to alter it. When Oedipus reveals about the oracle, he escapes from Corinth to avoid fulfilling it, but this action leads him closer to what he was destined to do. First he unknowingly meets his biological father and kills him, and later marries his own mother without knowing their real relationship.Therefore, his attempts to avoid a prophecy is what makes the prophecy come true.

Sophocles clearly indicates the theme of fate when he makes the oracles unconditional. Oedipus is predestined to kill his father and marry his mother, and that happens against Oedipus’ will. Although the events that surround Oedipus are not predetermined, it is shown that they lead him to fulfill the oracles. Oedipus does not make the choices to kill his father, marry his mother and reveal that he murdered the King, but the force of fate direct him to actions that lead him to do so.

My impression of Oedipus Rex is that it is an excellent play that shows the great masterly art by Sophocles. The author attempts to bring out important themes is successful. He uses figurative writing and other writing styles to emphasize on motifs and themes. For instance, Oedipus blindness is figurative, and Jocasta repeatedly talks about the oracle, which emphasizes that it is unconditional.

The play is also captivating, but wrongfully instills a feeling of pity to the reader. One would sympathize with Oedipus because it is apparent that he was manipulated by higher forces in order to end up to his resentful state. However, several of Oedipus actions and events were not predestined and he could have chosen a different paths to take.

There is less emphases on moral values in the play. Wrongful actions of people are easily justified by oracles and fate. Nonetheless, the play indicates that the action of killing is resentful and it is worth to make things right.

Works Cited

Belfiore, Elizabeth. Tragic Pleasures: Aristotle on Plot and Emotion. Princeton, p. 176. 1992.

Knox, Bernard. The Date of the Oedipus Tyrannus of Sophocles,” The American Journal of Philology , Vol. 77, No. 2, Pp. 133-14. 1956.

Sophocles. Oedipus the King. New York: Hayes Barton Press. 1946.

“Apology” by Plato and the “Plea for Captain John Brown” by Thoreau
“Confessions” by St. Augustine
The Role of Fate in Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”
Oedipus and Blindness in "Oedipus Rex"
The Acts of Heroism in Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”
Impact of Philosophies of African American Authors
“Statesman” by Plato: A Critique
Apology and Analects: A Failed Attempt at Martyrdom and the Reshaping of Environments
Daoism: Philosophical and Religious Customs and Notions
George W.F. Hegel: The Role of Family
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, November 22). "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles Play Analysis. https://ivypanda.com/essays/oedipus-rex-by-sophocles-play-analysis/

""Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles Play Analysis." IvyPanda , 22 Nov. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/oedipus-rex-by-sophocles-play-analysis/.

IvyPanda . (2021) '"Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles Play Analysis'. 22 November.

IvyPanda . 2021. ""Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles Play Analysis." November 22, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/oedipus-rex-by-sophocles-play-analysis/.

1. IvyPanda . ""Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles Play Analysis." November 22, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/oedipus-rex-by-sophocles-play-analysis/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . ""Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles Play Analysis." November 22, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/oedipus-rex-by-sophocles-play-analysis/.

A Summary and Analysis of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

The plot of Sophocles’ great tragedy Oedipus the King (sometimes known as Oedipus Rex or Oedipus Tyrannos ) has long been admired. In his Poetics , Aristotle held it up as the exemplary Greek tragedy . Samuel Taylor Coleridge called it one of the three perfect plots in all of literature (the other two being Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist and Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones ).

Oedipus the King might also be called the first detective story in Western literature. Yet how well do we know Sophocles’ play? And what does a closer analysis of its plot features and themes reveal?

The city of Thebes is in the grip of a terrible plague. The city’s king, Oedipus, sends Creon to consult the Delphic oracle, who announces that if the city rids itself of a murderer, the plague will disappear. The murderer in question is the unknown killer of the city’s previous king, Laius. Oedipus adopts a sort of detective role, and endeavours to sniff out the murderer.

He himself is plagued by another prophecy: that he would one day kill his father and marry his mother. He thinks he’s managed to thwart the prophecy by leaving home – and his parents – back in Corinth. On his way from Corinth to Thebes, he had an altercation with a man on the road: neither party would back down to let the other past, and Oedipus ended up killing the man in perhaps Western literature’s first instance of road rage.

Then Oedipus learns that his ‘father’ back in Corinth was not his biological parent: he was adopted after his ‘real’ parents left him for dead on a hillside, and he was rescued by a kindly shepherd who rescued him, took the child in, and raised him as his own. (The name Oedipus is Greek for ‘swollen foot’, from the chains put through the infant’s feet when it was left on the mountain.)

Tiresias the seer then reveals that the man Oedipus killed on the road was Laius – the former king of Thebes and (shock horror! Twist!) Oedipus’ biological father. Laius’ widow, Jocasta, is Oedipus’ own mother – and the woman Oedipus had married upon his arrival in Thebes.

When this terrible truth is revealed, Jocasta hangs herself, and Oedipus puts out his own eyes and leaves Thebes, going into self-imposed exile so he can free the Thebans from the plague.

This much constitutes a brief recap or summary of the plot of Oedipus the King . How we should interpret and analyse its use of prophecy and Oedipus’ own culpability, however, remains a less clear-cut matter. Is Oedipus to blame for what happens to him? Or is he simply a pawn of the gods and fates, to be used according to their whim?

Eventually, the nemesis can take no more and raises an army against Winter Kay. One of his soldiers, bearing a golden badge that resembles an eye in shape, is the one who kills Winter Kay in battle. In his dying moments, the hapless villain realises that, in seeking to avert the prophecy, he had, in fact, helped it to come true.

This is similar to the story of Oedipus the King . Oedipus heard the prophecy that he would one day murder his father and marry his mother, and so fled from his presumed parents so as to avoid fulfilling the prophecy. Such an act seems noble and it was jolly bad luck that fate had decreed that Oedipus would turn out to be a foundling and his real parents were still out there for him to bump into.

But what is clever about Sophocles’ dramatising of the myth is the way he introduces little details which reveal Oedipus’ character. The clues were already there that Oedipus was actually adopted: when he received the prophecy from the oracle, a drunk told him as much. But because the man was drunk, Oedipus didn’t believe him.

But, as the Latin phrase has it, in vino veritas . Then, it is Oedipus’ hubris, his pride, that contributes to the altercation on the road between him and Laius, the man who turns out to be his real father: if Oedipus was less stubborn, he would have played the bigger man and stepped aside to let Laius pass.

What does all this mean, when we stop and analyse it in terms of the interplay between fate and personal actions in Oedipus the King ? It means that Sophocles was aware of something which governs all our lives. Call it ‘karma’ if you will, or fate, but it works even if we remove the supernatural framework into which the action of Oedipus the King is placed.

Our actions have consequences, but that doesn’t mean that a particular action will lead to a particular consequence: it means that one action might cause something quite different to happen, which will nevertheless be linked in some way to our lives. A thief steals your wallet and you never see him, or your wallet, again. Did the criminal get away with it? Maybe.

Or maybe his habit of taking an intrusive interest in other people’s wallets will lead him, somewhere down the line, to getting what the ancient Greeks didn’t call ‘his comeuppance’. He wasn’t punished for pilfering your possessions, but he will nevertheless receive his just deserts.

Oedipus kills Laius because he is a stubborn and angry man; in his anger and pride, he allows himself to forget the prophecy (or to believe himself safe if he kills this man who definitely isn’t his father, no way ), and to kill another man. That one event will set in motion a chain of events that will see him married to his mother, the city over which he rules in the grip of plague, and – ultimately – Oedipus blinded and his wife/mother hanged.

Or perhaps that’s to impose a modern reading onto a classical text which Sophocles himself would not recognise. Yet works of art are always opening themselves up to new readings which see them reflecting our changing and evolving moral beliefs, and that is perhaps why Oedipus the King remains a great play to read, watch, analyse, and discuss. There remains something unsettling about its plot structure and its ambiguous meaning, and that is what lends it its power.

Discover more from Interesting Literature

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Type your email…

7 thoughts on “A Summary and Analysis of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King”

Reblogged this on Writing hints and competitions and commented: Insight, the fate that launched a thousand clips

Wonderful analysis. Thank you. ~~dru~~

Thank you :)

Pingback: A Short History of Detective Fiction | Interesting Literature
Pingback: A Summary and Analysis of the ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ Fairy Tale | Interesting Literature
Pingback: A Short Summary of Arthur Miller’s ‘Tragedy and the Common Man’ – Interesting Literature
Pingback: A Short Analysis of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth – Interesting Literature

Oedipus Rex

Introduction.

Oedipus Rex is a famous tragedy written by Sophocles. It is also known by its Greek name “Oedipus Tyrannus” or “Oedipus the king”. It was first performed in 429 BC. Sophocles is now placed among the great ancient Greek Tragedians. He wrote three famous tragedies that include Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone that describe the sufferings of a king and his children after him.

Definition of a tragedy

Oedipus rex summary.

The play starts outside the palace of King Oedipus. The city of Thebes is shown suffering a plague because of which people are terrified. The fields become barren and people start suffering from different diseases. The people of Thebes gather along with a priest and other elders to request Oedipus, the king of Thebes, to help them and save them from this plague. They come to the king to ask for help because he saved them once from the sphinx too. The sphinx was a monster with the woman’s head, lioness’ body, eagle’s wings and serpent’s tale.

Oedipus appreciates the chorus for their prayers. Oedipus then addresses to all the people and forbids them to give shelter to the murderer of king Laius. He also announces that if the murderer is present in the crowd, he can come forward and admit his crime. However, he promises not to kill the person if he comes forward to surrender and he only suggests banishment for him. The chorus suggests Oedipus to call Teiresias, the blind prophet, to resolve this matter. Oedipus tells them that he has already sent someone to call him.

Jocasta and Oedipus feel relief on this news. Jocasta becomes happy and tells Oedipus that this is another proof that proves the prophecies wrong. Oedipus believes her but he tells her that he is still worried about the other prophecy that he will marry his mother. The messenger tells Oedipus that now he doesn’t need to stay away from his home, Corinth. He tells him that he can come back any time without any fear because his mother, Merope, is not his real mother and Polybus was not his real father either.

Finally, Oedipus’ men come with a shepherd. Seeing the terrible condition of Jocasta, the chorus also starts thinking that something bad is going to happen so they also start begging Oedipus to leave the mystery unsolved but Oedipus doesn’t listen to them either. The shepherd looks terrified and doesn’t want to answer the king’s question. Oedipus forces him to tell the truth. He tells Oedipus it is true that he gave a baby boy to another shepherd. He admits that the baby was king Laius’ son whom Jocasta and Laius left to die on a hillside because they were terrified of an oracle’s prophecy.

Creon also enters the palace after hearing the whole story. He consoles Oedipus and asks him to come inside so that no one can see him. Oedipus also begs Creon to let him leave the city but he suggests meeting Apollo first. Oedipus refuses to meet anyone. Oedipus says that the only punishment for the sinner is banishment. He requests Creon to bring his daughters to him as he wants to meet them before leaving. He also asks Creon to take care of them.

Themes in Oedipus Rex

It is the main theme of this play and fate plays an important role in the whole play. When king Laius and queen Jocasta hear the prophecy that their son will kill his father and marry his mother, they leave their son to die but the child doesn’t die and is taken to Corinth. When Oedipus grows up, he also comes to know about this prophecy so he leaves that place but he doesn’t know that his fate is taking him towards his real parents. No matter how hard he tries to escape his fate, he does the same as was written. The role of fate remains prominent in the play and in the end, Oedipus finds that he is only a puppet in the hands of gods and prophets.

Individual will/action

Pity and fear, plague and health, self-discovery and memories of the past, search for truth.

Oedipus promises people to find out the truth and punish the culprit so he starts his search. Many people request him to stop his search but he doesn’t listen to them. Teiresias begs him not to ask him about the truth because it will only bring pain to everyone. He forces him to speak. Later when things start to become clear, Jocasta also requests Oedipus to stop finding the truth but he doesn’t listen to her either. Then he finds out the bitter truth and ends up punishing himself.

Guilt and Shame

Blind faith, oedipus rex characters analysis.

Creon remains a loyal friend to Oedipus. He even forgives him when he accuses him of treason and gives the order to execute him. He claims that he never thought of turning against Oedipus. In every decision about the city of Thebes, he shares an equal part as Oedipus and Jocasta. At the end of the play, when Oedipus requests him to let him leave the city, he tells him that they should go to the oracle first but Oedipus doesn’t agree. Creon brings the daughters of Oedipus to meet their father for the last time according to his will and he also promises Oedipus to take care of them after him. Creon becomes the ruler of Thebes after king Oedipus.

Teiresias then leaves the palace saying his last riddle. He tells that the murderer is in front of them, he is the killer of his father and the husband of his mother, he is the brother of his own children and the son of his own wife, a man who came seeing but will leave this world in blindness. His prophecy proves to be true at the end of the novel when the truth gets revealed in front of everyone and Oedipus blinds himself.

A chorus is a group of singers that includes the elder citizens of Thebes. As the play starts, they come to Oedipus along with a priest to request the king to save their city from the plague. They become satisfied as the king assures them that he will save them from the trouble. The chorus plays an important role in the play. They sing choral odes after every scene that helps to connect different scenes of the play. Moreover, their choral odes add to the beauty of the play and entertain the readers.

The chorus also prays to different gods to save their city from the plague. They forbid the king to take any strict decision against Creon and stop him from executing Creon. When the truth starts revealing, they also try to stop the king to stop his search for truth because they also start feeling that something wrong is going to happen. In the end, they lament on the king’s fate and the play ends when the Chorus says, “Count no man happy till he dies, free of pain at last”.

Antigone and Ismene

The messenger from corinth.

Oedipus gets shocked on hearing this news and asks him who told him about this. He tells Oedipus that years ago someone from Thebes gave him a child as a gift and he presented it to the king and queen of Corinth as they had no children of their own. Oedipus further asks him about the person who gave him the child. He tells Oedipus that he was one of Laius’ servants. He also helped Oedipus in recognizing the servant.

The Herdsman

The herdsman is the person who gave the child of king Laius and queen Jocasta to the messenger of Corinth on their orders. He is also the witness of king Laius’ death. Initially, he lied to everyone that king Laius was murdered by some robbers but later when king Oedipus calls him in his palace and forces him to speak the truth, he tells that he witnessed the killer of King Laius and he is Oedipus.

The Second Messenger

Oedipus rex literary analysis.

“Oedipus Rex” is a classical work in which Sophocles has skillfully shown a straightforward interpretation of a Greek myth. Throughout the play, the use of dramatic irony makes this play a great success and masterpiece. The play discusses how fate plays its part in the life of the characters. The main character tries hard to escape his fate but in his effort to run away from it, he actually comes nearer to what gods have decided for him and ends up doing what already was prophecized.

Title of the play

Setting of the play, ending of the play.

He leaves the city as he himself announced banishment as a punishment for the criminal. Now he wins the hearts of people again and becomes the real hero at the end. Creon treats him gently forgetting about what he did to him and takes the charge of Thebes afterwards.

Writing style

Plot analysis, initial situation , conflict , complication.

Oedipus starts realizing that he has some link with the murder of Laius. The more he learns about the truth, the more he shows interest to solve this mystery. As he comes close to the truth, he hurts no one but himself in the entire process.

The three unities in Oedipus Rex

Unity of action, unity of place.

“Oedipus Rex” also follows the unity of action as the whole play occurs at a single place. The play is restricted to a single location that is in front of the king’s palace in the city of Thebes.

Unity of Time

Three act plot analysis.

Oedipus knows that the city is cursed so he sends Creon to an oracle to find out the solution. Creon tells that the only solution to lift the plague is to find the murderer of King Laius and punish him. Oedipus promises people to find the culprit and save them from trouble.

Oedipus investigates Jocasta, Teiresias, the messenger and the shepherd to know about King Laius’ murderer. Slowly he starts solving the mystery.

Analysis of the Literary Devices used in Oedipus Rex

Dramatic irony.

One example of the dramatic irony is that throughout the play Oedipus struggles to find the murderer of King Laius but in reality, he himself murdered his father and then he searches for the murderer here and there. The irony here is that he searches for himself.

The scars on Oedipus’ feet

When Oedipus was three days old, an oracle told his father, King Laius, that the child will kill his father in the future and then he will marry his mother. King Laius bound his feet by a pin due to which they got swollen and later some scars were left on them. The scars on his feet are symbolic. They symbolize that Oedipus was marked for all the sufferings right from the time of his birth. These scars are also ironic. Although the name of Oedipus clearly points towards his feet, still he fails to discover his true identity.

The Crossroads

Oedipus killed a stranger at a place where three roads met. Unknowingly he killed his father. Sophocles made the point of murder unique. Oedipus’ fate followed him. The three roads actually symbolize the choices that a person has while making any decision. In the play, the three roads symbolize the choice or the path that Oedipus could have taken instead of killing a man just because of his short temperament. The three roads also symbolize the present, past and future. It is said that the Greek Goddess of the crossroads had 3 heads. One head could see the past, one the present and one the future.

Eyes, Vision and Blindness

Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

By sophocles, oedipus rex or oedipus the king essay questions.

Oedipus remains in the dark. Do you agree?

This question asks you to consider the importance of dark and light, and therefore perhaps also sight, in the play. Think metaphorically (i.e. 'in the dark' - unknowing) but also literally (Oedipus' blinding at the end of the play).

Oedipus is old before his time. Do you agree?

This question asks you to consider question of youth and age in Oedipus - though the action of the play happens in a single day, how might Oedipus be considered old? You might also want to think about fathers and children and the impact generation has on age.

This play happens backward. Do you agree?

This question asks you to consider the structure of the play. Look at the section on 'Myth' and consider the way Sophocles alters the story to turn it into a drama. What does Oedipus know at the start of the play? What does he know at the end? What events actually occur during the play - or have all the events happened before it begins?

How might a consideration of the conditions of Greek theatrical performance impact upon our understanding of Oedipus Rex?

This question asks you to consider the importance of the Greek theatrical conventions (particularly masks) that would have originally been employed when Oedipus was performed. Think practically - there were no electric lights, no recorded music, and perhaps even no props. How might this change your interpretation of the play? (See 'About Greek Theater' for more information).

Is Oedipus Rex a private or a public play?

This question asks you to consider the relationship between public and private (or between oikos/polis) in the play. What is the outcome for Thebes? What is the outcome for Oedipus? Is Oedipus to be considered as a father/son/brother or simply as the king of Thebes?

Might Oedipus be more than one man?

This question asks you to consider the play's central inconsistency as potentially one of its themes. The Thebans have heard that Laius was killed by more than one man; in fact, Oedipus alone committed the murder. Think of Oedipus' various roles in the play - king/brother/father/son - and consider whether the conflict of the play might be a conflict between the one and the many.

Do you agree that Oedipus' tragedy happens because of a 'tragic flaw'?

This question asks you to consider that Oedipus' tragedy happens because of a tragic flaw - an opinion that many critics would strongly disagree with. Why do the events of the play happen? Whose fault is it - if anyone's? See Oedipus and Aristotle for more information about the idea of tragic flaws.

"The old seer had eyes" (Oedipus the King, 748). Discuss ideas of sight and blindness in the play.

As well as thinking literally about blindness in Oedipus (Teiresias, in particular) consider the relationship between knowledge and sight. Does Oedipus have any insight into things - can he, perhaps, see better without his eyes?

"I stumbled when I saw" (Gloucester, in Shakespeare's King Lear ). Compare Oedipus Rex to any other play of your choice.

This question invites you to compare Oedipus to any other play. You might want to think about themes, about characters, or what you consider to be the ultimate lesson of the play - just remember to keep comparing: write about both plays at once, not one and then the other. See Useful Comparison Points for some good ideas.

How does Oedipus come to embody the riddle of the Sphinx?

This question requires you to make a connection between the Sphinx riddle's answer - 'man' - and Oedipus' fate. Oedipus, as a consequence of seeking the answer to his kingdom's plague, manages to go through the three stages of the Sphinx's riddle. He is the baby with pierced ankles, crawling on four feet to escape a messenger who would kill him. Then he is the proud adult, king of Thebes, walking on two feet. And finally he is the old, blinded man, walking with a cane, cast out of his own kingdom.

GradeSaver will pay $15 for your literature essays

Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What does Oedipus seem to believe about his ability to control his own destiny?

It is important to remember that, even at this first stage of the play, Oedipus’ pride does not bring about any of the events that cause the plague. The murder of Laius, after all, happened many years ago, and he already has four children fathered...

Character analysis please?

Oedipus is the king of Thebes, married to Jocasta. He is unaware, at the start of the play, that he has murdered his father and slept with his mother. Soon he learns that it was he that put his kingdom at such terrible risk, and blinds himself...

Oedipus the King

Jocasta is both Oedipus' wife and mother, though, she is unaware that she has married her son. When she learns that her son was not killed, and was in fact her husband, Jocasta takes her own life.

Study Guide for Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King) study guide contains a biography of Sophocles, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

About Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King
Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King Summary
Character List

Essays for Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King) essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King) by Sophocles.

Hubris in Antigone and Oedipus
Hubris in Greek Mythology
Anagnoresis
Poetics and the Great Greek Tragedy: Oedipus Rex
The Vision of Blindness: Sight Versus Insight in Sophocles' Oedipus the King

Lesson Plan for Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

About the Author
Study Objectives
Common Core Standards
Introduction to Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King
Relationship to Other Books
Bringing in Technology
Notes to the Teacher
Related Links
Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King Bibliography

E-Text of Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King) e-text contains the full text of Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King) by Sophocles.

Wikipedia Entries for Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

Introduction

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Oedipus — Oedipus the King: Analysis of Tragic Hero and Themes

Oedipus The King: Analysis of Tragic Hero and Themes

Categories: Oedipus

About this sample

Words: 861 |

Published: Jan 31, 2024

Words: 861 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Background information, analysis of the tragic hero, examination of fate and free will, exploration of the theme of blindness, examination of the themes of knowledge and ignorance.

Sophocles. Oedipus the King. Penguin Classics, 1967.
McAuley, Karen. “Themes in Greek Tragedy : Oedipus the King.” English Tutor, 11 Mar. 2021, englishtutorlessons.com/gcse/greek-myths-and-tragedies/oedipus-the-king/.
Segal, Charles. “Sophocles' Oedipus the King and Freud's Oedipus Complex.” International Journal of Psychoanalysis , vol. 70, no. 1, 1989, pp. 1–13.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr Jacklynne

Verified writer

Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 751 words

2 pages / 706 words

2 pages / 918 words

3.5 pages / 1572 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Oedipus

When it comes to Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex by Sophocles stands as one of the most renowned and influential plays. The play follows the tragic downfall of Oedipus, the king of Thebes, as he unknowingly fulfills a prophecy that [...]

Throughout the tragic play Oedipus Rex, Jocasta, the mother and wife of Oedipus, is portrayed as a victim of circumstance. She becomes entangled in a web of fate, unable to escape the tragic events that unfold around her. [...]

Throughout the pages of ancient Greek tragedy, the story of Oedipus has captivated audiences with its intricate plot and timeless themes. One of the most shocking moments in this tragic tale is Oedipus' self-inflicted demise. [...]

Jocasta, the queen of Thebes and wife of Oedipus, plays a significant role in the tragedy of Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Her character traits have a profound impact on the overall plot and contribute to the tragic [...]

Imagine a world where marriage is not just a union of two individuals, but a force that shapes destinies and determines the course of an entire kingdom. Such is the world of Sophocles' tragic play, Oedipus The King. In this [...]

An Unavoidable Fate: Step into the world of ancient Greece, where the gods wield power over mortal lives. Join me as we unravel the timeless tragedy of Oedipus and the inexorable grip of fate that leads to his [...]

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

Instructions Followed To The Letter
Deadlines Met At Every Stage
Unique And Plagiarism Free

Ask LitCharts AI
Discussion Question Generator
Essay Prompt Generator
Quiz Question Generator

Literature Guides
Poetry Guides
Shakespeare Translations
Literary Terms

Oedipus Rex

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

Theme Analysis

The ancient Greeks believed that their gods could see the future, and that certain people could access this information. Prophets or seers, like blind Tiresias , saw visions of things to come. Oracles, priests who resided at the temples of gods—such as the oracle to Apollo at Delphi—were also believed to be able to interpret the gods' visions and give prophecies to people who sought to know the future. During the fifth century B.C.E., however, when Sophocles was writing his plays, intellectuals within Athenian society had begun to question the legitimacy of the oracles and of the traditional gods. Some of this tension is plain to see in Oedipus Rex , which hinges on two prophecies. The first is the prophecy received by King Laius of Thebes that he would have a son by Queen Jocasta who would grow up to kill his own father. The second is the prophecy that Oedipus received that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Laius, Jocasta, and Oedipus all work to prevent the prophecies from coming to pass, but their efforts to thwart the prophecies are what actually bring the prophecies to completion.

This raises a question at the heart of the play: does Oedipus have any choice in the matter? He ends up killing his father and marrying his mother without knowing it—in fact, when he is trying to avoid doing these very things. Does he have free will—the ability to choose his own path—or is everything in life predetermined? Jocasta argues that the oracles are a sham because she thinks the prediction that her son would kill her husband never came to pass. When she finds out otherwise, she kills herself. In Oedipus Rex , Oedipus has fulfilled his terrible prophecy long ago, but without knowing it. He has already fallen into his fate. One could argue that he does have free will, however, in his decision to pursue the facts about his past, despite many suggestions that he let it go. In this argument, Oedipus's destruction comes not from his deeds themselves but from his persistent efforts to learn the truth, through which he reveals the true nature of those terrible deeds. Oedipus himself makes a different argument at the end of the play, when he says that his terrible deeds were fated, but that it was he alone who chose to blind himself. Here, Oedipus is arguing that while it is impossible to avoid one's fate, how you respond to your fate is a matter of free will.

Fate vs. Free Will ThemeTracker

Fate vs. Free Will Quotes in Oedipus Rex

Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.

Oedipus Rex

38 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Pages 160-198

Pages 199-251

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

The philosopher Aristotle considered Oedipus Rex a paragon among plays, and used it to expand on his theory of catharsis—the idea that seeing traumas enacted onstage provides the audience relief through the experience of pity and terror. How does Oedipus Rex bring about catharsis? Look for specific moments in the play to support your ideas.

If you were directing Oedipus Rex , how would you encourage the actor playing Jocasta to describe Laius’s attempted infanticide or the actor playing Oedipus to describe fleeing from the people he believes are his parents? Why would you stage these scenes this way?

The Chorus provides interludes of music, dance, and commentary. What dramatic, thematic, and emotional roles does the Chorus serve?

Related Titles

By Sophocles

Oedipus at Colonus

Philoctetes

Women of Trachis

Featured Collections

Ancient Greece

View Collection

Philosophy, Logic, & Ethics

Popular Study Guides

Religion & Spirituality

Tragic Plays

Oedipus - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

Oedipus, a tragic hero in Greek mythology, is the central figure in Sophocles’ tragic plays “Oedipus Rex” and “Oedipus at Colonus.” Essays on Oedipus could explore the themes of fate, identity, and the quest for truth in Sophocles’ tragedies. Discussions might delve into the character analysis of Oedipus, the dramatic techniques used by Sophocles, and the Greek concept of tragedy as reflected in the Oedipus saga. Moreover, analyzing the enduring relevance of Oedipus’ tragic story, its various adaptations, and its influence on later literary and philosophical works can provide a comprehensive understanding of this classic Greek tragedy and its profound humanistic messages. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Oedipus you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Freud Oedipus Complex Essay

Sigmund Freud is well known by many of us for countless reasons. He has earned his title as the founder of psychoanalysis (Gay 195), is known for his innovative discoveries involving psychology, and even has psychological phenomena named after him (for example, the Freudian slip). Forever changing the way we understand ourselves and other people, it is extremely rare for an educated person to go their entire lives without hearing his name. So, how did someone like Freud become so […]

What Crimes did Oedipus Commit?

Introduction The tragedy of Oedipus lies in the kings admirable search for truth and openness that meets with obstruction from those who would hide this truth and from his own figurative blindness to truth. This famous and historical play known was "" Oepidus Tyrannous by Sophocles has been a greatly debated work. Some scholars and also readers have argued and/or debated that Oedipus is innocence or guilty. Oedipus, the ruler of Thebes, murdered his father and married his mother. Such […]

About Justice Wargrave

What are his personality traits? Justice Wargrave is an intelligent, unwelcoming, and assertive individual. While Justice Wargrave was in the field, so to speak, he had a reputation of being a "hanging judge. He was the type of judge who persuaded the juries to side with the guilty verdicts. Agatha Christie describes Wargrave as an old and grotesque looking individual. With a frog-like face, and pale penetrating eyes. Once the situation on Indian Island becomes more evident that the murderer […]

We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs.

Oedipus is a Tragic Hero

For hundreds of years Sophocles' play Oedipus the King has been popular and dissected by many. Oedipus journey through the story to his dark fate has made this play one of the more popular plays among Greek mythologies. Many themes are brought up in the play, we see tragic flaws, the concept of inescapable fate and free will throughout the story. Due to the journey we see Oedipus take, he fits the mold of a tragic hero as defined by […]

Situational Irony in Oedipus Rex

The Greek tragedy of Oedipus Rex has many examples of irony. There is an irony throughout the play, that is the tragedy of Oedipus's fate. He is tortured by the constant twist of his own fate. The play shows examples of three types of irony, verbal irony, situational irony, and dramatic irony, all of which lead to Oedipus causing his own loss of sight. Verbal irony is the use of words to mean something different from what they seem to […]

Ancient Greece’s Three Types of Heroes

The definition of the word hero is quite skewed. People tend to have their own definitions and interpretations of what the word means. However, people can usually agree on who a hero is and what makes a person a hero. In most cases, a hero can be described as one who shows great courage and is admired for noble achievements and noble qualities. Greek heroes show all of these qualities. They were admired for achieving incredible mythological feats and were […]

Hamlet Oedipus Complex

The well known play, Hamlet written by William Shakespeare truly centers on the hardship of Hamlet being pressured to kill his uncle by plead of his dead father. It all began when Hamlet discovers a ghost which embodies the exact features of his recently dead father. The Ghost begs Hamlet to seek revenge for him since he was unfairly killed by his own brother named Claudius. Hamlet’s uncle not only killed his father, but he also had the audacity to […]

Oedipus Rex: Tragic Hero

Oedipus displays the Aristotelian elements of a tragic hero when his hamartia causes him to suffer a peripeteia in which he loses all that he holds dear, his catharsis offers some relief from the pain of his downfall, and ultimately this tragedy creates a legacy that suggests fate is an uncontrollable force that cannot be altered. Oedipus Rex suffers great tragic flaw throughout the play. From the beginning Oedipus will never be able to escape his fate. A prophecy is […]

The Role of Woman in Ancient Time

The role of woman in each of these works play a significant role in each yet they are all portrayed in different aspects. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a very old story yet still the role of women in the story is very much important. You can get the idea that it might actually not be so old since it shows that woman’s role as that of in today’s society. If you take it from the biological perspective, the females are […]

Oedipus the King: the Story of the Consequences of a Curse Placed on King Oedipus

In the city of Thebes, there is a plague of infertility that strikes. Just as the plants do not grow so is women not able to bear children. Creon informs King Oedipus that until the killer of King Laius is identified, the plague cannot be ended. Oblivious to the truth, King Oedipus sets to find out who the killer is and swears to punish the individual. Most of the times, people may have their physical sight, but blind themselves for […]

AP One Sheet Oedipus the King

Major Characters: One major character in the story is Oedipus Rex. He is the main protagonist, who is the king of Thebes. Oedipus is portrayed as a dynamic character throughout the piece. He was notorious for his intelligence and being able to solve riddles. He saved the city of Thebes from a plague by telling a riddle to the Sphinx. Oedipus is a dynamic character because throughout the story he is finding more about his own self. Oedipus tries to […]

An Important Role Free Will in Oedipus the King

Fate is often said to be inevitable, an adverse outcome, condition, or end and free will is the ability to choose at your own discretion. In our everyday life, we make decisions and are often told that life is about making choices. It is because we have free will that we make choices which may lead to positive consequences if the choice is rational and yet other times our decisions lead to negative consequences. Free will plays an important role in Oedipus the King and fate […]

Oedipus and Antigone

Relationships are known to be about love and trust, but it seems to be a very big problem in the past. In the past for example in the stories I will be using are not just complicated between one or two people it is conflict that has happened between an entire family. When something is conflicted that means that there is a huge argument between one or even many people because they disagree with something. In my opinion it almost […]

Oedipus the King: Oedipus Complex

In Oedipus The King by Sophocles, tells the story of the new king of Thebes who fulfilled the prophecy of killing his father and having sexual relations with his mother while trying to avoid it (Sophocles). In psychology, this sounds very similar to the Oedipus complex. With it named after the king, did Oedipus suffer from it himself? The Oedipus complex is, "in psychoanalytic theory, a desire for sexual involvement with the parent of the opposite sex and a concomitant […]

Oedipus the King and Aristotle

In Aristotle's' Poetics, a perfect tragedy is described as being complex story whose themes and actions should imitate real life. For the story to be considered a tragedy, the hero must be virtuous and possess nobility of character. Their greatness however, should not insinuate they are perfect instead, they should possess real flaws which should help the audience related to the hero. One of the main factors for a perfect tragedy is the reversal of situation. The hero should be […]

Leadership in Oedipus Rex

While comparing the similarities between Oedipus and Creon, they both accepted their guilt behind their actions, felt guilty for their actions and Creon would make a better position as a president for 2021. Oedipus accepts his guilt when he realizes that he murdered his father and slept with his mother and also finds Jocasta dead. Oedipus then later blinds himself from facing reality and the actual truth. 'And as this dirge went up, so did his hands strike his founts […]

Arrogance in Oedipus Rex

Before a world of advanced entertainment and technology, there was Greek theater. Unlike many stories told today, ancient Greek tragedies seldom ended well. The heroic qualities of the protagonist were often overshadowed by a horrific human failure. Yet, when written well, a story can elicit strong feelings of sympathy for the damaged hero while simultaneously teaching greek cultural values. The play, Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, showcases the tragic fate of Oedipus while displaying that he is still capable of […]

Oedipus and the Sphinx

The great sphinx is a famous landmark known around the world for its loin body and a human head. It was built for a pharaoh as a guide in the afterlife. There is so much to learn about the sphinx. Like when and where it as built, ancient Greek myths, and King Khafre (the head of this amazing monument). Not to mention all the astonishing facts about the statue. When and where was the great sphinx built? The sphinx was […]

Oedipus Rex Complex Character

Themes are a key factor to have in stories. They express a lesson, message, or point of view of the author. A theme can connect all parts of a story. The theme of sight, physically and metaphorically, is heavily used in one of Sophocles Theban plays; “Oedipus the King”. This play tells the story of King Oedipus and his quest to lift a plague off of his city. Through out the story, Oedipus is ignoring the truths that are told […]

Summary of Shakuntala: Oedipus Rex

Finding Poetics in History The common saying about war, depression, political events, and history is that it repeats itself. In theatre history, Aristotle’s Poetics does this too. The Poetics, only 114 pages, is a common thread that is sewn through the evolution of theatre from 335 BCE to present day. Aristotle’s Poetics is a crucial document that has been formative in the path influencing the decisions of some of the earliest thespians. Aristotle’s impact on history is large and the […]

Oedipus the King by Sophocles

In Sophocles' story, Oedipus The King, the title concerns the main character Oedipus, King of Thebes, who married his own mother without knowledge and killed his own father. When Oedipus was born, King Laius gained from a prophet that he was bound to be slaughtered by his very own child, thus requested Jocasta, his better half, to kill Oedipus. At the Town of Corinth, he was raised by King Polybus and his wife, Merope, as their own child. Oedipus learning […]

Oedipus Rex – Greek Mythology of Heroism and Tragedy

As part of three Theban plays written by Sophocles, Oedipus Rex is the story of man who consults an oracle and learns of his fate; that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Once learning his fate, he then runs away from ""home. Later, Oedipus becomes king after defeating the Sphinx, that was terrorizing his birth home. When a plague strikes the city, Oedipus goes in search of the murderer in order to rid of the plague. While […]

Thebes and Oedipus: Unveiling Symbolism, Choices, and Relationships

In Greek mythology, there's an innumerable amount of Gods, heroes, and monsters. Oedipus - the King of Thebes - was one of the best-known heroes of all the Greek legends. He had dark, wavy hair and resembled what a perfect, attractive human man would look like. His ankles were covered with scars and he was blind. His name signifies the definition ""swollen foot in Greek. Oedipus biological parents were King Laius and Queen Jocasta and his foster parents were King […]

Comparison between “Death of a Salesman”, “Oedipus Rex”, and “A Streetcar Named Desire”

Both “Oedipus Rex,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and “Death Of A Salesman” have scenes where a character’s past is revealed, whether it is to other characters or the audience (Oedipus’ parentage, Blanche’s past, or Willy’s affair). This overall foreshadows that they cannot fully escape their past, whether it is an eventual surfacing (“A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Death of a Salesman”) or an unexpected revelation (Oedipus Rex). This is linked to the theme of the inevitability of fate. There are […]

Oedipus: the King of Thebes

Oedipus is the king of Thebes, having solved the riddle of the Sphinx and saved the city from destruction. But now a plague is devistraing Thebes, and various oracles and bird entrails suggest it is because the murderer of the old king, Laius, still lives in the kingdom unpunished. Oedipus decides to investigate the murder to alleviate everyone, including himself, only to discover he himself is the one who killed Laius and married his queen, Jocasta. Then he finds out […]

Oedipus Vs Hamlet

In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, when Thebes is struck with the aid of a plague, the human beings ask King Oedipus to supply them from its horrors. Creon, the brother of Jocasta, Oedipus's queen, returns from the oracle of Apollo and discloses that the plague is punishment for the homicide of King Laius, Oedipus's instant predecessor, to whom Jocasta was once married. Creon further discloses that the residents of Thebes need to find out and punish the murderer before the […]

Antigone Vs Oedipus the King Civil Disobedience

Antigone struggled between the loyalty to her brother and Creon’s decree. She wanted to give her brother a proper burial so he could have a peaceful afterlife. However, Creon demanded that no one bury Antigone’s brother. I can relate to Antigone because I have wanted to help my friend when she got herself in trouble. However, my parents said I was not allowed to contact her because she was a negative influence. I believe that Antigone has the right to […]

Journal Oedipus the King

One of the most interesting and tragic ideas about reading Oedipus by Sophocles is that we know what Oedipus does not. We know that he unknowingly killed his father. The idea of fate, or fulfilling a prophecy is complicated in this story. Oedipus, has no control of this story line, and could no way have changed what was already in place from the time of his birth. We know that he unknowingly killed his father.That he marries his mother, becoming […]

Oedipus Rex, a Play by Sophocles

The ancient Greeks built the first theaters, invented and mostly wrote two types of drama; tragedy and comedy. A tragedy is a serious drama about common themes, such as betrayal or love. In ancient times, Greece had three notable dramatists who wrote tragedies, one of whom was Sophocles. Sophocles was an ancient Greek playwright from 496 to 406 BC. He came from a wealthy family and recieved a good education. His father is Sophillius, a rich armour manufacturer, and grew […]

Navigating the Intricate Web of Parent-Child Relationships: a Contemporary Exploration of the Oedipus Complex

Introduction Sigmund Freud, revered as the pioneer of psychoanalysis, introduced a groundbreaking theory that has captivated the world of psychology for over a century: the Oedipus complex. This enigmatic concept probes the complex dynamics between parents and their children, with a particular focus on the intense emotions and conflicts that can arise between a child and their same-sex parent. While Freud's theory has undergone scrutiny and evolution, it remains a significant cornerstone in the realm of psychology. In this essay, […]


Place :	Polis-tis-Chrysokhou, tomb, Cyprus
Created :	420–400 BC
Present location :	Room 72, British Museum
Period/culture :	Attic
Played by :	Tora Shimomura, Yoshihiro Shimomura, Christopher Plummer, Franco Citti

Additional Example Essays

Is Medea a Tragic Hero?
Medieval Romance "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Personal Narrative: My Family Genogram
The Road not Taken Poem Analysis
Homeschooling vs Public School
Gender Roles in the Great Gatsby
Socioautobiography Choices and Experiences Growing up
Electric Cars vs Hybrid Cars
Leonardo da Vinci And His Life
"The Goonies" and the Hero's Journey
Compare and Contrast: Hamlet and The Lion King
7 Deadly Sins in The Crucible

How To Write An Essay On Oedipus

Introduction to oedipus and its significance.

When approaching an essay on Oedipus, it's essential to understand the play's significance in the context of ancient Greek literature and its lasting impact on Western culture. Begin by introducing "Oedipus Rex" (also known as "Oedipus the King") by Sophocles, one of the most renowned tragedies of ancient Greek theater. Outline the story's central themes of fate, free will, and tragic downfall. Your introduction should establish the scope of your essay, whether you plan to focus on character analysis, thematic exploration, the concept of tragedy, or Sophocles' use of dramatic techniques. A clear and engaging introduction will set the foundation for a deeper exploration of this classic work.

Analyzing the Character of Oedipus

In the body of your essay, delve into an analysis of Oedipus as a character. Discuss his journey throughout the play, from a respected king to a tragic figure doomed by fate. Examine his qualities as a leader, his pursuit of truth, and his eventual downfall due to his hubris (excessive pride). Analyze how Sophocles develops Oedipus’ character to explore themes such as human suffering, the limits of human understanding, and the struggle between fate and free will. This section should offer insight into Oedipus as a complex character whose story raises timeless questions about human nature and destiny.

Exploring Themes and Sophocles’ Dramatic Techniques

Extend your essay to discuss the broader themes in "Oedipus Rex" and how Sophocles employs various dramatic techniques to convey them. Analyze the role of fate and prophecy in the play, and how it intersects with the theme of blindness and insight. Discuss the use of dramatic irony, where the audience is aware of the tragic truth long before Oedipus himself realizes it. Consider Sophocles’ use of dialogue, symbolism, and staging to enhance the emotional and thematic depth of the play. This analysis should illustrate how "Oedipus Rex" exemplifies the elements of classical Greek tragedy and its enduring relevance in literature and theater.

Concluding with the Impact of Oedipus Rex

Conclude your essay by summarizing your main points and reflecting on the impact and legacy of "Oedipus Rex." Discuss why this play remains significant in modern times, considering its influence on literature, psychology (as seen in Freud's Oedipus complex), and theater. Reflect on the universal themes in the play that resonate with contemporary audiences, such as the quest for identity and the human condition's complexities. Your conclusion should not only tie together your analysis of "Oedipus Rex" but also encourage readers to consider its continued relevance and the insights it offers into the human experience.

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Edinburgh Fringe

Musical theatre, backstage & technical, obituaries & archive, training & drama schools, broadway & international, npo 2023-26, jobs & auditions, acting & performance, shakespeare, oedipus rex review.

Kitty Whately in Oedipus Rex at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. Photo: Jess Shurte

Support The Stage by registering or subscribing

To continue reading this article you must be logged in. Register or login below to unlock 3 free articles every month.

Or subscribe today and get unlimited access to thestage.co.uk.

Thom Dibdin

More from this author, the marriage of figaro review, carmen review, more on this topic.

3 Chickens Confront Existence review

The Brenda Line review

Shifters review

The Fifth Step review

More reviews.

Aspects of Love review

King Lear review

Sunset Boulevard review

Recommended for you.

Thom has been a freelance critic, feature writer and reporter for The Stage since 1994 and is a former Scotland correspondent for the publication.

More from this author

Mum and i don't talk anymore review, the gummy bears’ great war review, antony & cleopatra review, hamlet review, the 39 steps review, a little inquest into what we are all doing here review, sorry (i broke your arms and legs) review, bus crashes into west end's palace theatre, edinburgh fringe 2024: the best shows to see so far, the stage debut awards 2024: nominees in full, the stage debut awards 2024: elvis costello and francesca amewudah-rivers among nominees, fleabag producer scoops two fringe first gongs in edfringe second week, why is the edinburgh fringe flooded with solo shows about awful experiences, cate blanchett to return to london stage for the seagull, aimee lou wood: playing sally bowles in cabaret almost killed me, the list announces shortlists for inaugural edinburgh festivals awards, categorising boundary-breaking edinburgh shows is getting harder, your subscription helps ensure our journalism can continue.

Invest in The Stage today with a subscription starting at just £5.99

Actor Rich List 2024: These are the world's 17 richest film stars - Keanu Reeves net worth

15 Funniest jokes of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024 revealed

Environment
Rugby Union
Other Sport
Sport Opinion
Film and TV
Theatre and Stage
Edinburgh Festivals
Scran Podcast
Advertise My Business
Place Announcement
Place A Public Notice
Advertise A Job

EIF reviews: Oedipus Rex | Maxim Emelyanychev & SCO Principals | Declan McKenna

Oedipus Rex ★★★

National Museum of Scotland, until 19 August

Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers

Thank you for signing up.

Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more.

Audiences have a chance to experience opera up close in Scottish Opera’s promenade performance of Igor Stravinsky and Jean-Cocteau’s neo-classical take on Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus Rex in the grand gallery of Scotland’s national museum.

Low walkways for the performers framed the orchestra who were placed between the Atom Crusher and the jaw of a whale – somewhat apt given the trap about to ensnare Oedipus. As with most Greek theatre, the multi-faceted Chorus is a central character and this community choir had much to do, quite apart from singing in Latin.

Scattered throughout the audience they sang confidently, moving gymnastically throughout the space and engaging, even dancing, with the people around them. There were also numerous gods strolling among us in fantastical costumes by designer Anna Orton.

Director Roxana Haines, coordinated everything beautifully and came up with the conceit of making the Speaker (Wendy Seager) the museum’s cleaner. She summarises the story (in English) when she’s not attending to her duties. These included dusting down the golden coat of Oedipus as if he were a fusty relic and wheeling Jocasta off on a rubbish cart after her unfortunate demise.

Conductor Stuart Stratford kept the orchestra moving as well as synchronising the outstanding line-up of big-voiced singers who were often at opposite ends of the space or on a balcony. They excelled vocally in this challenging acoustic while also creating sympathetic characters. Shengzhi Ren as Oedipus – initially lauded for slaying the Sphinx – ends up sticking pins in his eyes when he realises he has killed his father and married his mother.

Kitty Whately (Jocasta) sang brilliantly with the haughty grandeur of a queen: audiences parted for her like the Red Sea. Roland Wood (Creon), Callum Thorpe (Tiresias), Emyr Wyn Jones (Messenger) and Seumas Begg (Shepherd) also gave solid and captivating performances. Susan Nickalls

We're offering 40% off an annual digital subscription to The Scotsman, so you can enjoy a summer of amazing content for less. Checkout using promo code SUMMER40. Subscribe at www.scotsman.com/subscriptions

Maxim Emelyanychev & Principals of the SCO ★★★★

Queen’s Hall

The magic of the fortepiano in a chamber music context is the influence it bestows on the expressive scale of a performance. The magic of Maxim Emelyanychev is not only his needle-sharp facility on that instrument, but the extrovert wit and charm with which he refreshes the music. It’s like you are hearing it for the very first time – even in this officially all-Mozart programme for which the SCO principal conductor was joined in various permutations by some of his orchestral principals.

First up, Mozart’s Piano Quartet in G minor with lead violinist Stephanie Gonley operating on all-gut strings, a silken complement to the fortepiano’s delicacy. The dynamic was deliciously intimate, casually conversational, the central Andante a blissful time-stopper, the final Rondo enlivened with amiable frivolity.

The “Kegelstatt” Piano Trio introduced a lyrical wind sonority – Maximiliano Martín’s clarinet in partnership with Max Mandel’s viola – and with it a rounded, reflective poignancy that held its fire till the Finale.

Emelyanychev threw in an impromptu Haydn solo Fantasy – a moment of virtuosic mischief – before turning his agile mind, along with string quintet, to Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 12. Where the earlier performances bore very minor inconsistencies, this one was unshakeably assured, magic even. Ken Walton

Declan McKenna ★★★★

The EIF has probably never known such shrieking and moshing from an audience as that which greeted London-based indie troubadour Declan McKenna and his band. Equally the Playhouse balcony has surely never bounced quite so perceptibly for any artist.

McKenna was in town to mark the release of his latest eclectic album What Happened to the Beach?, its songs already greeted like old friends. But then he wheeled out some even older friends and the hysteria only escalated for his galvanising anthem The Kids Don't Wanna Come Home.

Not everything landed with such vibrancy but McKenna has a way of milking the most out of each song. Isombard was exultant and pacey, while Nothing Works – a song of despair that sounds nothing like it – exuded character, unleashing jubilation in the crowd while the band ramped up the chaos.

This would be the concert climax to most ears but McKenna kept them coming, from the chunky glam psych rock of Beautiful Faces to the trim indie-pop human rights protest number Brazil, the skinny funk-meets-indie ruckus of Mystery Planet to closing beat pop number The Phantom Buzz (with its multiple fake-out endings). McKenna also opened his encore with another likely EIF first: an ABBA cover, debuting a lovely solo rendition of Slipping Through My Fingers. Fiona Shepherd

Want to join the conversation? Please register or log in to comment on this article.

IMAGES

Oedipus Rex Tragic Hero of Sophocles Free Essay Sample on Samploon.com
The Quest for Justice: Oedipus Rex and the Journey of Self-Discovery
⇉Oedipus’ Tragic Flaws: An Analysis of Oedipus Rex Essay Example
(PDF) The Role of Tiresias in Oedipus Rex
Oedipus Rex as a Tragic Hero
Analysis of Play "Oedipus Rex" Free Essay Example

COMMENTS

Oedipus Rex Essays and Criticism
In an essay on Oedipus Rex in Homer to Brecht: The European Epic and Dramatic Traditions, Paul Fry noted that "around 427 B.C., when the play was first acted, the priests of Apollo were out of ...
Analysis of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex
Home › Drama Criticism › Analysis of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. Analysis of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on July 27, 2020 • ( 0). The place of the Oedipus Tyrannus in literature is something like that of the Mona Lisa in art. Everyone knows the story, the first detective story of Western literature; everyone who has read or seen it is drawn into its enigmas and moral ...
The tragedy of Oedipus: [Essay Example], 974 words
In Oedipus Rex, a play written by Sophocles, Oedipus" hubris and hamartia eventually lead him to his downfall, making him a tragic hero.The first quality of Oedipus that justifies him as a tragic hero is his hubris. Hubris is defined by the Webster-Merriam dictionary as "Exaggerated pride or confidence".
Oedipus Rex Summary
Oedipus Rex is a Greek tragedy that tells the story of King Oedipus of Thebes, who is fated to kill his father and marry his mother. Thebes is struck by a plague that will only be lifted if the ...
Oedipus Rex by Sophocles Plot Summary
Oedipus Rex Summary. At the start of the play, the city of Thebes is suffering terribly. Citizens are dying from plague, crops fail, women are dying in childbirth and their babies are stillborn. A group of priests comes to the royal palace to ask for help from Oedipus, their king who once saved them from the tyranny of the terrible Sphinx.
Oedipus the King Study Guides & Sample Essays
Oedipus the King, a timeless Greek tragedy penned by Sophocles, unfolds the tragic descent of Oedipus, a heroic figure ensnared in the ominous prophecy of patricide and matrimony with his mother/incest. Confronted with the formidable choice between unraveling the intricacies of his lineage and preserving the foundation of his perceived reality ...
"Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles Play Analysis Essay
Oedipus Rex, also known as Oedipus the King, is a play authored by Sophocles. It was first performed in 429 BC in Athens, Greece (Knox 133). The play is the second of several Sophocles' plays, and has been regarded as an excellent piece by many scholars (Belfiore 176).
A Summary and Analysis of Sophocles' Oedipus the King
Summary. The city of Thebes is in the grip of a terrible plague. The city's king, Oedipus, sends Creon to consult the Delphic oracle, who announces that if the city rids itself of a murderer, the plague will disappear. The murderer in question is the unknown killer of the city's previous king, Laius. Oedipus adopts a sort of detective role ...
Oedipus Rex Critical Essays
Aristotle considered Oedipus Tyrannus the supreme example of tragic drama and modeled his theory of tragedy on it. He mentions the play no fewer than eleven times in his De poetica (c. 334-323 b.c ...
Oedipus Rex Summary and Detailed Analysis
Oedipus Rex Literary Analysis. "Oedipus Rex" is a classical work in which Sophocles has skillfully shown a straightforward interpretation of a Greek myth. Throughout the play, the use of dramatic irony makes this play a great success and masterpiece. The play discusses how fate plays its part in the life of the characters.
Oedipus The King: Character Analysis: [Essay Example], 580 words
Oedipus the King, also known by its Latin title Oedipus Rex, is an ancient Greek tragedy written by Sophocles. The play is renowned for its complex characters and timeless themes, making it a staple of literature and theater studies.One of the most intriguing characters in the play is, of course, Oedipus himself. Oedipus is a tragic hero with a complex and multifaceted personality, and a ...
Oedipus Rex: Tragedy, Fate, and Ancient Wisdom
In conclusion, "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles is a cornerstone of classical literature, a play that transcends time and culture. Its exploration of themes like fate, truth, and human nature continues to captivate and provoke thought among modern audiences. It's a testament to Sophocles' genius and the enduring power of Greek tragedy to ...
Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King Essay Questions
1. Oedipus remains in the dark. Do you agree? This question asks you to consider the importance of dark and light, and therefore perhaps also sight, in the play. Think metaphorically (i.e. 'in the dark' - unknowing) but also literally (Oedipus' blinding at the end of the play). 2. Oedipus is old before his time.
Developing a Thesis for an Essay on Oedipus Rex
To develop a thesis for an essay on Oedipus Rex, focus on a central theme such as fate versus free will, the nature of guilt and innocence, or the role of prophecy. A strong thesis should present ...
Oedipus The King: Analysis of Tragic Hero and Themes
The play "Oedipus the King" is a tragedy written by Sophocles around 429 BC. The play tells the story of Oedipus, the King of Thebes, who unwittingly fulfills a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. The play explores themes of fate and free will, blindness, and knowledge vs. ignorance, making it a relevant piece of ...
Fate vs. Free Will Theme in Oedipus Rex
Fate vs. Free Will ThemeTracker. The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Fate vs. Free Will appears in each section of Oedipus Rex. Click or tap on any chapter to read its Summary & Analysis. How often theme appears: section length: Lines 1-340. Lines 341-708. Lines 709-997.
Oedipus Rex Essay Topics
Oedipus Rex Essay Topics. Jason has 20 years of education experience including 14 years of teaching college literature. Oedipus Rex can be a challenging work for students. The essay topics ...
Oedipus Rex Essay Topics
Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Oedipus Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas
61 essay samples found. Oedipus, a tragic hero in Greek mythology, is the central figure in Sophocles' tragic plays "Oedipus Rex" and "Oedipus at Colonus.". Essays on Oedipus could explore the themes of fate, identity, and the quest for truth in Sophocles' tragedies. Discussions might delve into the character analysis of Oedipus ...
Oedipus Rex review at National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, by Igor
Production name Oedipus Rex. Venue National Museum of Scotland. Location Edinburgh. Starts 12/08/2024. Ends 19/08/2024. Press night 12/08/2024. Running time 1hr. Translator Abbé Jean Daniélou, E ...
Oedipus Rex Historical and Social Context
Shortly after Cleisthenes established democracy in Athens in 507 B.C., the city faced threats from external enemies. In the early fifth century B.C., the Persians, under the leadership of Darius ...
Oedipus Rex, Scottish Opera, Edinburgh Festival, review: this weird
Oedipus Rex, Scottish Opera: this weird operatic experiment pays off This immersive staging of Stravinsky's tragedy at the National Museum of Scotland is simultaneously accessible, humanistic ...
Thesis statements for essays on the tragedy Oedipus Rex
Summary: A strong thesis statement for an essay on the tragedy Oedipus Rex could focus on the inevitability of fate, the consequences of hubris, or the interplay between free will and destiny ...
EIF reviews: Oedipus Rex
Scottish Opera's ambitious promenade performance of Oedipus Rex in the grand gallery of the National Museum of Scotland leads our latest batch of EIF reviews. Words by Susan Nickalls, Ken Walton ...

Literary Theory and Criticism

Analysis of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex

Share this:

Related Articles

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Oedipus the King

“Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles Play Analysis Essay

Works Cited

A Summary and Analysis of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King

Discover more from Interesting Literature

7 thoughts on “A Summary and Analysis of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Oedipus Rex

Definition of a tragedy

Themes in Oedipus Rex

Individual will/action

Guilt and Shame

Antigone and Ismene

The Herdsman

The Second Messenger

Title of the play

Writing style

The three unities in Oedipus Rex

Unity of Time

Analysis of the Literary Devices used in Oedipus Rex

The scars on Oedipus’ feet

The Crossroads

Eyes, Vision and Blindness

Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King Questions and Answers

Study Guide for Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

Essays for Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

Lesson Plan for Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

E-Text of Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

Wikipedia Entries for Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

Oedipus The King: Analysis of Tragic Hero and Themes

Table of contents

Cite this Essay

Related Essays

Still can’t find what you need?

Related Essays on Oedipus

Related Topics

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

Oedipus Rex

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

Fate vs. Free Will ThemeTracker

Fate vs. Free Will Quotes in Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex

Essay Topics

Related Titles

Featured Collections

Oedipus - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

Freud Oedipus Complex Essay

What Crimes did Oedipus Commit?

About Justice Wargrave

Oedipus is a Tragic Hero

Situational Irony in Oedipus Rex

Ancient Greece’s Three Types of Heroes

Hamlet Oedipus Complex

Oedipus Rex: Tragic Hero

The Role of Woman in Ancient Time

Oedipus the King: the Story of the Consequences of a Curse Placed on King Oedipus

AP One Sheet Oedipus the King

An Important Role Free Will in Oedipus the King

Oedipus and Antigone

Oedipus the King: Oedipus Complex

Oedipus the King and Aristotle

Leadership in Oedipus Rex

Arrogance in Oedipus Rex

Oedipus and the Sphinx

Oedipus Rex Complex Character

Summary of Shakuntala: Oedipus Rex

Oedipus the King by Sophocles

Oedipus Rex – Greek Mythology of Heroism and Tragedy

Thebes and Oedipus: Unveiling Symbolism, Choices, and Relationships

Comparison between “Death of a Salesman”, “Oedipus Rex”, and “A Streetcar Named Desire”

Oedipus: the King of Thebes

Oedipus Vs Hamlet

Antigone Vs Oedipus the King Civil Disobedience

Journal Oedipus the King