Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex, also known as Oedipus the King, is a cornerstone of classical Greek tragedy. The play begins with Thebes suffering from a devastating plague. King Oedipus vows to save his city by uncovering the murderer of the former king, Laius. As he investigates, Oedipus discovers that he himself is the killer, having unknowingly fulfilled a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. This revelation leads to Jocasta’s suicide and Oedipus blinding himself in despair.
The narrative delves into themes of fate versus free will, the pursuit of truth, and the consequences of human pride. Oedipus’s determination to defy destiny ultimately leads him to fulfill it, illustrating the tragic irony central to the play. His journey from ignorance to knowledge, and from power to ruin, exemplifies the classic tragic hero’s arc. Sophocles’ masterful use of dramatic irony and tight plot construction has cemented Oedipus Rex as a seminal work in the study of tragedy
