A review by atlas_shruggs
Oedipus the King by Sophocles

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 This is definitely one of my favourite Greek plays. From the beginning you can feel the tension building, the way it's written makes it such a visceral experience. I listened to the audiobook which I highly recommend, and my heart ached for Oedipus. I felt his pain so deeply and connected to him in a way I haven't with any other characters in the Greek tragedies, which I wholeheartedly attribute to Sophocles' phenomenal writing and Michael Sheen's heart wrenching performance. It made me uncomfortable, it made me sad, but most of all it made me pity Oedipus. Despite all he did to try to prevent the prophecy he played right into it, showing the inevitability of fate as well as the immense cruelty of the gods