Sophocles Wrote Oedipus Rex : Summary, Themes & Characters

Introduction

Sophocles Wrote Oedipus Rex : Summary & Themes Oedipus Rex, also known as Oedipus the King, is one of the most well-known plays by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles and is considered to be one of the foundational works of classical Greek tragedy.

Part of Sophocles’ trilogy of Theban plays, which also includes Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus, the drama was first performed in 429 BCE. Oedipus Rex is still a crucial text in the study of literature, psychology, philosophy, and theatrical structure because it explores topics like fate, free will, identity, and the intricacy of human suffering.

At the core of Oedipus Rex is the tragic tale of Oedipus, King of Thebes, who seeks to discover the truth about a plague that has ravaged his city but instead discovers a horrible truth about himself. Sophocles addresses philosophical questions like the power of fate and the limits of human understanding while evoking a sense of inevitable events through a variety of dramatic tropes, such as tragic irony and dramatic irony.

Summary of Oedipus Rex

The play begins in the city of Thebes, which is suffering from a devastating plague. The citizens of Thebes, desperate for relief, gather before the palace of their king, Oedipus, seeking his help. Oedipus, who is deeply concerned for the welfare of his people, has already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to consult the Oracle of Delphi, the god Apollo’s sacred site, in hopes of finding a solution.

Prologue: The Plague and the Oracle’s Message

Creon returns from the Oracle and delivers the grim news: the plague will only be lifted when the murderer of the former king, Laius, is found and punished. Laius was murdered some years earlier, and the people of Thebes had hoped the truth would come to light. Oedipus vows to track down the murderer and end the plague. He makes an official decree, calling for anyone who knows anything about the crime to come forward.

At this moment, the blind prophet, Tiresias, is summoned to help uncover the truth. When Tiresias arrives, he is reluctant to speak. He knows the truth about the murderer, but he hesitates to reveal it. Finally, he tells Oedipus that he himself is the murderer, and that Oedipus will soon discover the horrific truth about his past.

Oedipus reacts with anger and disbelief. He accuses Tiresias of complicity in a plot to overthrow him, dismissing the prophecy as false. Tiresias warns him that he will soon see the truth for himself, but Oedipus refuses to listen.

Rising Action: The Investigation and Jocasta’s Intervention

As Oedipus continues to investigate, his wife, Jocasta, tries to calm him. Jocasta, who is the widow of Laius and the mother of Oedipus, reassures Oedipus by telling him that prophecies are unreliable. She recounts a prophecy that once foretold that her son would kill his father, Laius, and marry his mother. However, Laius was killed by bandits at a crossroads, and her son was abandoned to die, thus seemingly disproving the prophecy. Jocasta believes that the gods’ predictions are false and tries to convince Oedipus to stop his search for the truth.

Despite Jocasta’s reassurances, Oedipus begins to connect troubling pieces of his own past. He recalls an incident from his youth in Corinth, where he was told by a drunk man that he was not the true son of King Polybus and Queen Merope. This revelation sent him into a panic, and he fled Corinth to avoid fulfilling the prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother.

Oedipus reveals these details to Jocasta, and the two begin to fear that the prophecy may indeed be coming true, but they are still unaware of the full extent of its implications.

Climax: The Messenger’s Revelation

A messenger arrives from Corinth, announcing that King Polybus has died, and Oedipus is free from the prophecy that foretold he would kill his father. Oedipus is initially relieved and believes that the prophecy has been disproven. The messenger, however, adds another shocking revelation: Oedipus is not the biological son of Polybus and Merope. He was adopted as an infant by the royal couple.

The messenger’s words send Oedipus into a state of confusion and dread. He realizes that the prophecy may still be in play. He demands to meet the shepherd who was responsible for him as an infant.

The shepherd, who is revealed to have been a servant of Laius, confirms the worst of Oedipus’s fears: Oedipus is the son of Laius and Jocasta, and it was Laius’ attempt to kill the infant Oedipus that set the chain of events into motion. Oedipus has, in fact, fulfilled the prophecy.

Falling Action: Jocasta’s Suicide and Oedipus’ Blindness

Upon hearing the truth, Jocasta is overcome with shame and horror. She takes her own life by hanging herself in the palace. When Oedipus discovers her body, he is consumed with guilt and despair. Unable to cope with the revelation of his actions and the unbearable knowledge of his identity, he blinds himself using the brooches from Jocasta’s dress.

In his misery, Oedipus decides to leave Thebes in exile, as he believes he must atone for his sins. He urges Creon, his brother-in-law, to take care of his children and promises to live the rest of his life in darkness and solitude.

Themes in Oedipus Rex

1. Fate vs. Free Will

Sophocles Wrote Oedipus Rex : Summary & Themes The central theme of Oedipus Rex is the tension between fate and free will. Oedipus, in his attempt to escape the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother, inadvertently fulfills the very prophecy he sought to avoid.

This dramatic irony underscores the play’s exploration of fate’s inexorable nature and the limits of human agency. Despite all Oedipus’ efforts to control his destiny, he is powerless against the gods’ will, and his tragic fall illustrates the fragility of human existence in the face of divine authority.

2. Knowledge and Ignorance

Sophocles Wrote Oedipus Rex : Summary & Themes A key theme in the play is the relationship between knowledge and ignorance. Oedipus’s quest for truth leads him to uncover a devastating reality, but the more he learns, the more he suffers.

His blind pursuit of knowledge and his failure to recognize the limitations of his own understanding reveal the dangers of overreaching. Conversely, ignorance appears initially to be a form of protection, especially for Jocasta, who seeks to remain in the dark about the truth to avoid the emotional pain of knowing it.

3. The Role of the Gods

Sophocles Wrote Oedipus Rex : Summary & Themes The gods play an essential role in Oedipus Rex, and their will is central to the tragedy. Throughout the play, the Oracle of Delphi represents the inescapable fate that awaits the characters.

The gods, particularly Apollo, dictate the course of events, and their prophecies determine the characters’ lives. Despite all the human efforts to avoid the divine will, it is clear that the gods control the fate of the characters, and they are ultimately responsible for Oedipus’s downfall.

4. Blindness and Sight

Sophocles Wrote Oedipus Rex : Summary & Themes The motif of blindness runs throughout the play, both literally and metaphorically. Oedipus begins the play as a figure of vision and understanding, but as he uncovers the truth, he becomes literally blind.

Tiresias, the blind prophet, represents the idea that true sight comes from understanding the deeper, often painful truths of existence. Oedipus’s physical blindness at the end of the play symbolizes his spiritual awakening—he can now see the full reality of his actions, but it is too late.

5. The Tragic Hero and Hubris

Oedipus is a classic tragic hero, a noble figure who possesses a tragic flaw or hamartia. In his case, his flaw is his hubris—his excessive pride and his belief that he can outwit fate and the gods. Oedipus’ confidence in his intellect and his ability to solve problems ultimately leads to his undoing. His downfall is a result of his failure to recognize his limits and the forces beyond his control.

Characters in Oedipus Rex

1. Oedipus

Sophocles Wrote Oedipus Rex : Summary & Themes Oedipus’s wife and the widow of King Laius, Jocasta is the mother of Oedipus. She is initially portrayed as a calm and rational character who tries to comfort Oedipus and dismiss the significance of the prophecies. However, her tragic realization of the truth leads her to take her own life.

3. Creon
Sophocles Wrote Oedipus Rex : Summary & Themes Oedipus’s brother-in-law and the brother of Jocasta, Creon is a key supporting character in the play. He serves as a foil to Oedipus, embodying a more temperate and rational perspective. After Oedipus’s fall, Creon takes over the rule of Thebes.

4. Tiresias
The blind prophet of Thebes, Tiresias is a figure of wisdom and truth. Although he initially refuses to tell Oedipus the truth, he eventually reveals that Oedipus is the murderer of Laius. Tiresias’s blindness symbolizes his deeper insight into the truth, contrasting with Oedipus’s inability to see the reality of his situation.

5. The Messenger
The messenger from Corinth plays a crucial role in revealing Oedipus’s true parentage. He delivers the news that Polybus, Oedipus’s adopted father, has died, leading to the chain of events that uncover Oedipus’s true identity.

6. The Shepherd
Sophocles Wrote Oedipus Rex : Summary & Themes The shepherd is the final character to reveal the truth of Oedipus’s origins. He was the one who was instructed to kill Oedipus as an infant but instead gave him to the messenger from Corinth, saving his life.