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551 reviews for:
The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone
Sophocles
3.87 AVERAGE
551 reviews for:
The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone
Sophocles
3.87 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this is the start of everything. it's aristotle bible for lit theory. the masterpiece of tragedies itself.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oedipus Rex: 4 stars, I loved it so much, I think it was my favourite of the three! The investigations into who murdered Laius were so interesting, and the scene where Jocasta hangs herself and Oedipus blinds himself made me cry
Oedipus at Colonus: 2.5 stars, it was still good but much less gripping (lots of long monologues)
Antigone: 4 stars again, the ending in particular was amazing, Antigone is iconic
Oedipus at Colonus: 2.5 stars, it was still good but much less gripping (lots of long monologues)
Antigone: 4 stars again, the ending in particular was amazing, Antigone is iconic
Beautiful.
I've only read Antigone so far, but it was stunning.
I've only read Antigone so far, but it was stunning.
As good as plays about incest can really be. I appreciated the simpler phrasing and the general shortness of the plays but the subject matter was gross and I will probably never revisit it.
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A lot of the "classics" of the "Western" canon (I remain a skeptic of these categories) aren't, in my opinion, worth reading or praising. Antigone is one of the few exceptions to this. The themes of love, family, and responsibility are still resonant today, and the protagonist and her strong voice will stick with you long after you've finished the play.
Oedipus Rex (~4 stars) and Oedipus at Colonus (~3 stars) are good and provide valuable--but not essential--background for Antigone (all the stars). If you don't want to read all three, valid, but consider reading really brief summaries of the first two and then actually reading Antigone.
Oedipus Rex (~4 stars) and Oedipus at Colonus (~3 stars) are good and provide valuable--but not essential--background for Antigone (all the stars). If you don't want to read all three, valid, but consider reading really brief summaries of the first two and then actually reading Antigone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent