Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone

by Sophocles

Project Gutenberg Release

Project Gutenberg ID

31

Reading Ease

Reading ease score: 89.6 (6th grade). Easy to read.

Rights: Public domain in the USA.

Summary

"Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone" by Sophocles is a collection of classic Greek tragedies likely written in the 5th century BC. The central themes explore fate, free will, and the tragic consequences of human actions, revolving mainly around the lives of Oedipus and his family, highlighting his fall from grace and the ensuing curses that plague his lineage. The opening of "Oedipus the King" sets the stage in Thebes, where King Oedipus learns about a devastating plague afflicting his city. As he vows to find the cause, he is determined to uncover the truth, leading him down a path of self-discovery and horrifying realizations about his identity and past. The characters introduced, including the priest, Creon, and the blind seer Teiresias, foreshadow the tragic unraveling of Oedipus's life, particularly as themes of hubris and fate begin to prevail, laying the groundwork for the unfolding tragedy. The pleads of the Theban citizens highlight the desperation of those under Oedipus’s reign, marking him as both a capable but ultimately doomed leader. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Description

Three Greek plays

Metadata

language_code

en

bookshelf

Category: Classics of Literature
Plays
Category: Plays/Films/Dramas
Best Books Ever Listings
Harvard Classics

locc_code

PA

subject

Tragedies (Drama)
Oedipus (Greek mythological figure) -- Drama
Greek drama (Tragedy) -- Translations into English
Antigone (Mythological character) -- Drama