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550 reviews for:
The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone
Sophocles
3.87 AVERAGE
550 reviews for:
The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone
Sophocles
3.87 AVERAGE
So I somehow managed to teach Oedipus Rex to a group of 12th grade AP students on a moment's notice because my cooperating teacher had to proctor tests to other students. Keeping in mind that I had not read the play since I was sixteen, and I am now twenty-three, I was scared.
I just grabbed a copy, and let them act it out as I read along with them. I was able to remember all the little things that I never thought I would remember, and none of them knew that I hadn't planned it.
After they finished Oedipus Rex, I decided to keep reading the only play out of the three that I had not yet read.
Because I had only read Oedipus Rex and Antigone, I felt I was missing many gaps. Reading Oedipus at Colonus really helped me to understand why the brothers are feuding, and it makes the plot of Antigone so much clearer.
I just grabbed a copy, and let them act it out as I read along with them. I was able to remember all the little things that I never thought I would remember, and none of them knew that I hadn't planned it.
After they finished Oedipus Rex, I decided to keep reading the only play out of the three that I had not yet read.
Because I had only read Oedipus Rex and Antigone, I felt I was missing many gaps. Reading Oedipus at Colonus really helped me to understand why the brothers are feuding, and it makes the plot of Antigone so much clearer.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
3.5 ⭐️ for Antigone only.
Required reading. Everyone knows Oedipus Rex there’s not much else to say. I am and always will be an Antigone defender, lover, and rip off. Severely attached to this bitch so the stars are for her only.
Required reading. Everyone knows Oedipus Rex there’s not much else to say. I am and always will be an Antigone defender, lover, and rip off. Severely attached to this bitch so the stars are for her only.
Antigone
"Wisdom is by far the greatest part of joy,
and reverence towards the gods must be safeguarded.
The mighty words of the proud are paid in full
with mighty blows of fate, and at long last
those blows will teach us wisdom."
This final passage represents the theme for Antigone. These are the wise words that the Chorus speaks and are the ones that Creon should have listened to in the beginning. He was warned by his son. The blind prophet Tiresias told him to heed his words. Yet Creon did not. The price he pays for his insolence, disrespect, and lack of better judgement is a deep one; the loss of his son, wife, and niece, all by suicide. Creon's fall from grace is thunderous one.
Sophocles is a master of writing these downfalls from glory. He knew how to write a tale that would affect the crowd (and the reader) and have them reflect on their own lives. The reaction from the Athenian audience must've been one of shock and awe.
I enjoyed Oedipus the King more than this play. The destruction of the main characters are nearly the same, but how the events unfold for Oedipus is rivaled like no other. Antigone is definitely worth the read though!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Oedipus the King
This play was my introduction into Tragedy and Drama and what an inauguration it was! The horrible circumstances that fall upon Oedipus are truly horrific and I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.
The Gods are a cruel bunch, but I already knew this after reading The Iliad. Oedipus learned the hard way that trying to change the course of his terrible destiny was fruitless and in vain. He just couldn't see (no pun intended...hehe) that he was the reason the vile plague on Thebes continued. There is so much foreboding and cosmic irony stuffed into the story that its impossible to not laugh as you see the coincidences in the dialogue.
Truly a great, entertaining, sad, tragic, and amazing play. It would've been amazing to watch this performed in ancient Athens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oedipus at Colonus
The final chapter of the Theban Plays opens with old, weathered Oedipus arriving just outside of glorious Athens. Alongside him is his faithful daughter Antigone, who has been his guiding eyes ever since he took his own years ago. They end their trip directly in front of a sacred forest, where the Furies are worshipped. This is the site of Oepidus' final resting place, according to the prophecy that was told to him. He has been searching for this very spot for many years.
Multiple characters come on the scene and this is where the audience witnesses the fierceness and cutting anger that stirs inside Oedipus' heart. He has a good amount of indignation pent up after so many years, and his words come in the form of daggers which strike and stab his own son Polynices and his brother-in-law/uncle Creon. He doesn't hold back.
I found this play exciting and enthralling. The monologues were great and full of energy. The ending itself was great, with one of the most powerful gods letting his presence known. I enjoyed Oedipus the King greatly, and Oedipus at Colonus is a close second. Antigone was okay, but I have to reread it and see how I feel afterwards.
Overall, a fantastic literary journey.
"Wisdom is by far the greatest part of joy,
and reverence towards the gods must be safeguarded.
The mighty words of the proud are paid in full
with mighty blows of fate, and at long last
those blows will teach us wisdom."
This final passage represents the theme for Antigone. These are the wise words that the Chorus speaks and are the ones that Creon should have listened to in the beginning. He was warned by his son. The blind prophet Tiresias told him to heed his words. Yet Creon did not. The price he pays for his insolence, disrespect, and lack of better judgement is a deep one; the loss of his son, wife, and niece, all by suicide. Creon's fall from grace is thunderous one.
Sophocles is a master of writing these downfalls from glory. He knew how to write a tale that would affect the crowd (and the reader) and have them reflect on their own lives. The reaction from the Athenian audience must've been one of shock and awe.
I enjoyed Oedipus the King more than this play. The destruction of the main characters are nearly the same, but how the events unfold for Oedipus is rivaled like no other. Antigone is definitely worth the read though!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Oedipus the King
This play was my introduction into Tragedy and Drama and what an inauguration it was! The horrible circumstances that fall upon Oedipus are truly horrific and I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.
The Gods are a cruel bunch, but I already knew this after reading The Iliad. Oedipus learned the hard way that trying to change the course of his terrible destiny was fruitless and in vain. He just couldn't see (no pun intended...hehe) that he was the reason the vile plague on Thebes continued. There is so much foreboding and cosmic irony stuffed into the story that its impossible to not laugh as you see the coincidences in the dialogue.
Truly a great, entertaining, sad, tragic, and amazing play. It would've been amazing to watch this performed in ancient Athens.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oedipus at Colonus
The final chapter of the Theban Plays opens with old, weathered Oedipus arriving just outside of glorious Athens. Alongside him is his faithful daughter Antigone, who has been his guiding eyes ever since he took his own years ago. They end their trip directly in front of a sacred forest, where the Furies are worshipped. This is the site of Oepidus' final resting place, according to the prophecy that was told to him. He has been searching for this very spot for many years.
Multiple characters come on the scene and this is where the audience witnesses the fierceness and cutting anger that stirs inside Oedipus' heart. He has a good amount of indignation pent up after so many years, and his words come in the form of daggers which strike and stab his own son Polynices and his brother-in-law/uncle Creon. He doesn't hold back.
I found this play exciting and enthralling. The monologues were great and full of energy. The ending itself was great, with one of the most powerful gods letting his presence known. I enjoyed Oedipus the King greatly, and Oedipus at Colonus is a close second. Antigone was okay, but I have to reread it and see how I feel afterwards.
Overall, a fantastic literary journey.
I've never read a play before this one so I'm not very experienced in what to expect, but this seemed pretty good. The only thing I struggled with was keeping focus during really long amounts of speech; I found that there wasn't a lot during those to keep me grounded in the play so my mind would start wandering. I think I enjoy the tragedies so I'll be picking them up more in the future.
Having read all of these before, I only read the Antigone play this time for a class.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
"Count no man happy till he dies, free from pain at last."
Ahhhh yes, Greek tragedy. The Three Theban Plays come across as extremely pessimistic. If I had to compare Sophocles to a modern author, I would say that he is the Thomas Hardy of ancient Greece. Thomas Hardy's *coughs* wonderful ending to The Mayor of Casterbridge speaks for itself: "Happiness is but the occasional episode in a general drama of pain." But I honestly don't think that Sophocles comes close to being as bad as Hardy.
Sophocles actually draws lessons from the tragedies that happen to the house of Laius instead of wallowing in the suffering of the characters without purpose, which I appreciate. Although this is the case, he also condemns everyone to suffer at the hands of blind fate.
I have lots of thoughts about these plays, but I'm honestly too lazy to write them out here so let me leave you with a top three favorite things list about Antigone (the last play in chronological order) and call it quits:
- Antigone is the original strong female lead. But like, actually. She has this strong sense of morality and she showcases rebellion at its finest, when backed by moral conviction. She doesn't rebel just for the sake of rebelling: she does it with purpose and eloquence.
- Haemon and Antigone are so heartbreaking and I love them.
- The prose. THE PROSE. This translation is beautiful and it really gives the story that extra drama that is the hallmark of Greek tragedy.
So that's it. You're welcome. Happy Monday.
Ahhhh yes, Greek tragedy. The Three Theban Plays come across as extremely pessimistic. If I had to compare Sophocles to a modern author, I would say that he is the Thomas Hardy of ancient Greece. Thomas Hardy's *coughs* wonderful ending to The Mayor of Casterbridge speaks for itself: "Happiness is but the occasional episode in a general drama of pain." But I honestly don't think that Sophocles comes close to being as bad as Hardy.
Sophocles actually draws lessons from the tragedies that happen to the house of Laius instead of wallowing in the suffering of the characters without purpose, which I appreciate. Although this is the case, he also condemns everyone to suffer at the hands of blind fate.
I have lots of thoughts about these plays, but I'm honestly too lazy to write them out here so let me leave you with a top three favorite things list about Antigone (the last play in chronological order) and call it quits:
- Antigone is the original strong female lead. But like, actually. She has this strong sense of morality and she showcases rebellion at its finest, when backed by moral conviction. She doesn't rebel just for the sake of rebelling: she does it with purpose and eloquence.
- Haemon and Antigone are so heartbreaking and I love them.
- The prose. THE PROSE. This translation is beautiful and it really gives the story that extra drama that is the hallmark of Greek tragedy.
So that's it. You're welcome. Happy Monday.
tense
medium-paced