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Antigone, Oedipus the King, and Oedipus at Colonus: An Illustrated Journey

Rex Hayes

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Published in The Three Theban Plays: Antigone Oedipus The King Oedipus At Colonus ( Illustrated )

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The Theban plays of Sophocles are a trilogy of tragedies that tell the story of Oedipus, a king who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother. The plays are considered to be among the greatest works of Greek literature, and they have been adapted for stage, screen, and opera.

The Three Theban Plays: Antigone; Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus ( illustrated )

by Sophocles

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4990 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	194 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

The first play in the trilogy, Oedipus the King, tells the story of Oedipus's rise to power and his eventual downfall. The play begins with Oedipus as a young man who has just become king of Thebes. He is a wise and just ruler, and he is loved by his people. However, Oedipus has a tragic flaw: he is too proud. He refuses to believe that he is capable of ng anything wrong, and this eventually leads to his downfall.

The second play in the trilogy, Oedipus at Colonus, tells the story of Oedipus's exile from Thebes and his eventual death. The play begins with Oedipus as an old man who has been banished from Thebes for killing his father. He is accompanied by his daughters, Antigone and Ismene. Oedipus wanders the land for many years, and he eventually comes to Colonus, a small town near Athens. The people of Colonus are kind to Oedipus, and they offer him a place to stay. Oedipus dies in Colonus, and he is buried there.

The third play in the trilogy, Antigone, tells the story of Antigone's defiance of Creon, the new king of Thebes. Creon has forbidden the burial of Oedipus's body, but Antigone believes that it is her duty to bury her father. She buries Oedipus's body, and she is arrested by Creon. Creon sentences Antigone to death, but she kills herself before he can carry out the sentence.

The Theban plays of Sophocles are a powerful and moving tragedy. They tell the story of a man who is destroyed by his own pride, and they explore the themes of fate, free will, and the limits of human knowledge.

Characters

Oedipus: The king of Thebes who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother.
Jocasta: Oedipus's wife and mother.
Antigone: Oedipus's daughter.
Ismene: Oedipus's daughter.
Creon: The new king of Thebes.
Tiresias: A blind prophet who warns Oedipus of his fate.

Themes

Fate: The plays explore the role of fate in human life. Oedipus is destined to kill his father and marry his mother, and no matter what he does, he cannot escape his fate.
Free will: The plays also explore the concept of free will. Oedipus has the free will to choose his own actions, but he is still responsible for the consequences of his choices.
The limits of human knowledge: The plays show that human knowledge is limited. Oedipus does not know that he has killed his father and married his mother, and he is not able to escape his fate.

Adaptations

The Theban plays of Sophocles have been adapted for stage, screen, and opera. Some of the most famous adaptations include:

Oedipus Rex (1957 film)
Antigone (1961 play)
Oedipus at Colonus (1990 opera)

Legacy

The Theban plays of Sophocles have had a profound impact on Western literature and thought. They have been studied and admired for centuries, and they continue to be relevant to audiences today. The plays explore timeless themes such as fate, free will, and the limits of human knowledge, and they offer a powerful and moving tragedy.

The Three Theban Plays: Antigone; Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus ( illustrated )

by Sophocles

4.8 out of 5