Context of the Play:

The story revolves around an ancient greek tale of fate and free will, with its origins predating classical antiquity. The story itself had been known throughout the greek world and segmented as a story part of greek culture. It had been interpreted numerous times before Sophocles wrote it and the original story had an unknown author. Therefore it is important to take into account that this story is a development of the cultural history of Greece and the playwrights which it produced.

 

Greek Tragedy:

Greek tragedy was characterized by showing the flaws present in human reasoning and the underlying issues of Greek society. It was usually designed to teach the audience a moral lesson and evoke a sense of catharsis; a feeling of purification of the mind predominantly through pity and fear. Furthermore, it retained a certain structure, with a prologue, set of episodes, stasimon, and exodus. In the fourth century, Aristotle would procure his own rulebook for the structure and thematic elements of greek tragedy and drama.

 

Historical Context:

After the Greco-Persian wars, Greece entered a golden age of economic, political, and intellectual prosperity, culminating in the growth of the Athenian empire and the rest of the greek world. As Athens was a democracy (namely the first) it greatly encouraged the art of rhetoric and intellectual debate required to maintain its democratic system and set of ideals. Great democratic political figureheads such as Pericles would implement large-scale building programs, such as in the acropolis of Athens, aimed at portraying the prosperity and cultural superiority of their nation. These building programs created grand temples such as the Parthenon and other temples dedicated to the gods. These great architectural wonders layed the groundwork for where religious festivals and community events where to be held. Furthermore, it attracted artistic talent from around the greek world and caused resentment from their enemies. This would explain why the most famous greek playwrights, namely Aeschylus, Euripides, Aristophanes, and Sophocles themselves were all Athenians.

 

Plot:

The plot of Oedipus the king revolves around a detective who aims to find a murderer only for it to be revealed that he himself is the killer. The story begins with a reference to the plague ravaging the city of Thebes and the people consulting their king Oedipus for wisdom. He tells them he feels sorrow for his people and aims to find a way to help them. He sent for Creon, his wife’s brother to consult the oracle at Delphi for guidance. It is then revealed that in order for the plague to disappear he must kill the murderer of the past king of Thebes, King Laius. He then meets the wise man Teriasus who after a long discussion agrees to tell him the murderer of king Laius. When it is revealed to be him he remains in disbelief for the majority of the rest of the play until leading to the falling action where his wife, revealed to be his mother, kills herself and Oedipus gouges out his eyes making himself blind.