Spohocles Life

"Born in 495 B.C. about a mile northwest of Athens, Sophocles was to become one of the great playwrights of the golden age. The son of a wealthy merchant, he would enjoy all the comforts of a thriving Greek empire. He studied all of the arts. By the age of sixteen, he was already known for his beauty and grace and was chosen to lead a choir of boys at a celebration of the victory of Salamis. Twelve years later, his studies complete, he was ready to compete in the City Dionysia--a festival held every year at the Theatre of Dionysus in which new plays were presented.
In his first competition, Sophocles took first prize--defeating none other than Aeschylus himself. More than 120 plays were to follow. He would go on to win eighteen first prizes, and he would never fail to take at least second......Of Sophocles' more than 120 plays, only seven have survived in their entirety. Of these, Oedipus the King is generally considered his greatest work. This tragedy of fate explores the depths of modern psycho-analysis as Oedipus unwittingly kills his father and marries his mother in an attempt to avoid the very prophecy he ultimately fulfills." (Sophocles)

For more information on Sophocles life - http://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc1.htm was a great source of information.

Oedipus Rex Summary

   Oedipus Rex is a greek tragedy written by Sophocles. To begin the play a plague has stricken the city of Thebes. Oedipus, the king of Thebes ordered his brother - in - law Creon to visit an oracle to find out how to help the city. The oracle stated that the plague will end when the murderer of King Laius is found and dismissed. To find out more about the murder oedipus sent out for the blind prophet Tiresias. Oedipus did not want to believe Tiresias that he was the one who had killed king Laius, so Oedipus accuses Creon and Tiresias of conspiring against his life, and charged Tiresias with insanity. Now angered before leaving the stage, Tiresias left Oedipus with one more riddle saying that the murderer of Laius will turn out to be both father and brother to his own children, and the son of his own wife. Soon after Tiresias leaves Oedipus' wife Jocasta helped explain the murder of King Laius to him to help solve the mistery. After hearing about his death, Oedipus believes that he could be the murderer of Laius. After calling upon a local shepherd he is informed that he was the son of Laius and that he was sent to be killed as a new born child. He had also come to realize that he also was the murderer of his father and the husband of his own mother! Realizing who he is and who his parents are Oedipus flees the scene while gouging his own eyes out. While bleeding he begs to be exiled and asks Creon to take care of his young children.