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Cover of The Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles

The Oedipus Tyrannus

  • 110 pages · about 2 hours
  • 188 editions
  • Free to read

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1 About this book

Oedipus Rex chronicles the story of Oedipus, a man that becomes the king of Thebes and was always destined from birth to murder his father Laius and marry his mother Jocasta.

The play is an example of a classic tragedy, noticeably containing an emphasis on how Oedipus's own faults contribute to the tragic hero's downfall, as opposed to having fate be the sole cause. Over the centuries, Oedipus Rex has come to be regarded by many as the Greek tragedy par excellence.

Good for readers who want: a play and a short read.

  • Oedipus (Greek mythology)
  • Antigone (Greek mythology)
  • Drama
  • Tragedy
  • University of Cambridge

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3 About Sophocles

496–406

Sophocles (; Ancient Greek: Σοφοκλῆς, pronounced, Sophoklễs; c. 497/496 – winter 406/405 BC) was an ancient Greek tragedian, one of three from whom at least two plays have survived in full. His first plays were written later than, or contemporary with, those of Aeschylus and earlier than, or contemporary with, those of Euripides.

Bio adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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