- Author: Sophocles
- Year: 430*
- Famous for: Twisted family relationships and some stomach-turning eye-gouging.
- Main character: Oedipus, King of Thebes. A guy with a dirty little secret and an unfortunate prophecy to fulfill.
Don’t expect many surprises from Sophocles’ play, Oedipus Rex. You’ll be clued in to the pending tragedy way before the main character, Oedipus, can bring himself to accept the outcome of the horrific prophecy that’s haunted him since birth.
Don’t worry. We’re not giving anything away if we tell you that Oedipus was destined by the gods to kill his father and marry his mother. The real surprises in this play have more to do with the way Oedipus finally awakens to the prophecy—and the fallout that results for many of the other players in this ancient-but-relevant tragedy.
*Oedipus Rex was authored in 430 B.C.E. The play has since been republished many times.
