Oedipus the King is a tragic play by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles, dealing with themes of fate, blindness, and self-destruction. In the story, Oedipus is blinded after discovering that he has unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. This tragic turn of events serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignorance … Read more
Antigone is one of Sophocles’ most renowned works, and tells the story of a tragic heroine’s battle against her uncle, the king. Antigone is often considered the tragic hero of the play, as she fights for what she believes in despite the odds being stacked against her. However, some argue that it is Creon, Antigone’s … Read more
Oedipus Rex is a tragedy about a man who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother. Oedipus’s tragic flaw is his hubris, or excessive pride. This leads him to believe that he can avoid his fate, even though the gods have warned him otherwise. Oedipus’s tragic story is a cautionary tale about the dangers … Read more
Hamartia is a Greek word that typically refers to a tragic flaw or error in judgment. In Oedipus the King, Sophocles uses hamartia to describe Oedipus’s tragic flaw of hubris, or excessive pride. This tragic flaw leads Oedipus to make several errors in judgment that ultimately result in his downfall. For example, Oedipus stubbornly refuses … Read more
Jocasta is a key figure in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. As the wife of Oedipus and mother of his children, she plays a crucial role in the story. Jocasta is first introduced in the play when Oedipus goes to her for help in solving the mystery of who killed Laius, the previous king of Thebes. … Read more
Oedipus was a victim of fate, not just because of the prophecy that was made about him, but because of the choices he made. Even though it was prophesied that he would kill his father and marry his mother, Oedipus could have chosen to not go down that path. But instead, he killed his father … Read more
Antigone is a play written by Sophocles. The main theme of Antigone is the conflict between human law and divine law. Antigone centers around the idea that some things are more important than following the laws set by man. The title character, Antigone, goes against King Creon’s orders in order to give her brother a … Read more
Jocasta is Oedipus’ wife and mother in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King. She is a pivotal character in the play, as she is the one who eventually reveals to Oedipus that he has killed his father and married his mother. This revelation brings about Oedipus’ downfall, as he realizes the horrific truth of his actions. Jocasta … Read more
Creon is the tragic hero of Antigone by Sophocles. He is a great king who makes a tragic mistake that leads to the death of Antigone, his daughter. Creon is a good man who is caught in a bad situation. He does not want to kill Antigone, but he feels that he must uphold the … Read more
One of the most enduring misconceptions about Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is that it is a tragedy of fate. While it is true that the play does deal with the theme of fate, it is not a tragedy of fate. Rather, it is a tragedy of character. The story of Oedipus is well known. He … Read more
