Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is arguably one of the best plays of all time that inspired a large portion of the modern train of thought, and literary critics gave the play the epithet “Mona Lisa” of drama. It was certainly Aristotle’s favorite play as he stated in Poetics, naming Oedipus the perfect tragic hero. The core of the play is not what happens on the stage, but what already happened offstage, as Sophocles reveals the consequences of the acts, not the acts themselves. To understand the context...

THE EYE THAT DIES I have not read Sophocles’ text recently, but listened to this exceptional audio edition. Powerfully acted out, with an eerie chorus and dramatic music, it has been a superb experience.I have come back to this play now in a roundabout way. As part of a Seminar on Aesthetics, The Eye that Thinks, imparted in the Prado Museum, we were prompted by our Professor Félix de Azúa to read Oedipus in a Hegelian framework. We had been discussing the contributions of Hegel to Aestheti

“Fear? What has a man to do with fear? Chance rules our lives, and the future is all unknown. Best live as we may, from day to day.”

this fucked me right up.

I really do not like my mother. I realize that moms (mums for the English) have many hats to wear. There is the tumult she has with the husband who never listens to her, and the children who end up at the principal’s office, and the clothes that need mending, and the purveying and construction of victuals to meet everyone’s different palate. Got it. I cannot even imagine what extra toll and toil the 1960’s will bring on these unappreciated females. But that is still years away. I like to focus o...

You'll enjoy this book if you like:👑 Plays (duh)👑 Ancient Greece (also duh)👑 A fast read!👑 Gods who release plagues on a kingdom to ignite drama👑 (view spoiler)[Patricide and incest (I mean, not necessarily like them, but tolerate them haha) (hide spoiler)]👑 Murder mysteries👑 Knowing something crucial about the plot early on and waiting for characters to find out all about it (A.K.A. Slow characters)👑 Dysfunctional families

nothin like a forced reread in order to write a terrible paper -------classic oedipus!!! always going and getting himself into life-ruining, city-destroying shenanigans :')

I'd say "spoiler alert" but it seems ridiculous . . . I've taught this play for years, and I think this year I finally decided what makes this play great. My students never feel sympathy for Macbeth, but they do for Oedipus, and that always used to bother me. They whine in their teenage attitudinal voices, "But he didn't know that was his father." I always respond, "So it's ok to KILL PEOPLE if they're not your father?!" In identifying with Oedipus, they forget the nature of the atrocities he co...

Οἰδίπους Τύραννος = Oedipus Tyrannus = Oedipus = Oedipus Rex = Oedipus the King (The Theban Plays #1), Sophocles Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy by Sophoclesو that was first performed around 429 BC. Oedipus sent his brother-in-law Creon to ask advice of the oracle at Delphi concerning a plague ravaging Thebes. Creon returns to report that the plague is the result of religious pollution, since the murderer of their former King, Laius, had never been caught. Oedipus vows to find the murde...

What can I say about Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex that has not already been said? Apart from the patricide and the infamous incest, this is an ancient tale of angst and overall calamity. But since I recently revisited it, this legendary tragedy hasn’t left my mind. "Look and learn all citizens of Thebes. This is Oedipus.He, who read the famous riddle, and we hailed chief of men,All envied his power, glory, and good fortune.Now upon his head the sea of disaster crashes down.” I felt after reading th...

"Look and learn all citizens of Thebes. This is Oedipus.He, who read the famous riddle, and we hailed chief of men,All envied his power, glory, and good fortune.Now upon his head the sea of disaster crashes down.Mortality is man’s burden. Keep your eyes fixed on your last day.Call no man happy until he reaches it, and finds rest from suffering." I believe that in one way or another, everyone - at least to some extent - has heard of the story of Oedipus and Jocasta. It's one of those tales tha

Book Review 4 out of 5 stars to Oedipus Rex, the first of "The Theban Plays," written by Sophocles around 430 BC. If you are unfamiliar with Greek tragedies, the thing you need to know most is that the authors often played with the concept of fate: not just that some things are meant to be or to come back and haunt you, but that there is always more going on than you realize at the time. This is one of the plays you should absolutely read. Although borderline spoiler, it's important t

“Mock me for that, go on, and you’ll reveal my greatness.” I was, quite frankly blown away by the entire story of the three Theban Plays. And by the amazing story that it narrates. The first one, Oedipus Rex, or simply as Penguin translates it: Oedipus the King is hors d’oeuvre to the extreme vigor of the three consecutive plays, not as much great as the latter ones, probably for being so short. It finishes almost as soon as it begins to intrigue, which can prove a bit infuriating, undoubtedl

DUDE GOES BLIND BANGS MOM LOL

Oedipus of Sophocles is a great work of art written by a great poet,this play symbolizes for the human misery and despair...the torments of the human soul,the innocence and guilt,Wisdom Out of Suffering and Fate that determines many things no matter how we struggle to change it....Oedipus hears about his dreadful fate from the Delphic oracle and flees from Corinth. But instead of fleeing from his fate he runs into it...Oedipus a passionate heart,who ask questions and take risks,has all the quali...

“I want a girl, just like the girl, that married dear old Dad”—OedipusBut, why accept a copy when you can get the real thing?!I read this because 1) recently I had read (out of order) Antigone and thought I might reread the whole trilogy; 2) I plan to see a local production of the play and 3) I had some vague notion that the play, about a king, might throw some literary light on our current American King and kingly conduct. I listened to it, though I had to start over 3-4 times because the reade...

The Ultimate of Greek Tragedies8 April 2012 This play is so messed up that a part of me says that it has to be based on true events. It is sort of like one of the arguments that people use regarding the authenticity of the Bible: every character (with the exception of Jesus Christ) is so flawed that one cannot consider that the stories have been made up. In particular we see the heroes of the Israelite nation, that being Abraham, Moses, and David, warts and all. However when us consider the Gre...

Sometimes life's a real bitch. Fate is unavoidable in ancient Greek Tragedy. Trying to avoid it will only lead to it, and doing nothing will lead you there too. So if a God tells you that you will die at the hands of your son, and that he will then go on to steal your wife, you’d best do nothing because it’s going to happen anyway. Any preventative action you take will only lead to the same ending. So, you’re pretty much screwed. You might as well lie down and accept it. The God's are mean. But,...

I'm being irreverent, but whenever I think of this work I cannot help recalling Mel Brooks in History of the World Part 1. Apart from the legendary, and infamous, incest, this is an ancient tale of psychological terror and angst. Human nature does not change and the themes Sophocles explored are still relevant today, this is truly a timeless work.

honestly, I feel bad for Oedipus. He left his house to do the right thing and try to avoid killing his dad, just to come across his real dad and kill him anyway. It's really unfortunate and it really sucks for him. And then he had to go and skewer his eyeballs like yikes he's not having a good time, is he ?RIP Oedipus eyes, I'm sorry this happened to you. Honestly, I know this play is super tragic, and it actually is interesting how he tried to avoid his fate which led to him fulfilling it anywa...