Plays of Sophocles Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone

n Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex) Oedipus the King of Thebes is determined to save his city from a devastating plague by finding the murderer of his predecessor King Laius. In his search for the truth Oedipus discovers that he is in fact the murderer having unknowingly killed his father and married his mother fulfilling a prophecy he tried to avoid. The play explores the tension between fate and free will the inevitability of destiny and the tragic irony of Oedipus’ situation. Oedipus at Colonus takes place after the events of Oedipus Rex depicting the blind and exiled Oedipus in his final years. Seeking a peaceful place to die Oedipus finds refuge in Colonus where he receives divine approval for a peaceful death contrasting with his earlier suffering. The play touches on themes of redemption reconciliation and the power of divine will offering a sense of resolution to his tragic life. Finally Antigone focuses on Oedipus’ daughter who defies King Creon’s decree to leave her brother Polynices unburied after his death. Antigone's loyalty to her family and devotion to divine law lead her to bury her brother even at the cost of her life. The play explores the conflict between personal duty and state law highlighting themes of moral conviction justice and the consequences of defying authority. Antigone’s tragic fate underscores the complex relationship between individual conscience and societal laws.