Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonos; Antigone; Ajax; Electra; The Trachinian Maidens; Philoctetes
Sophocles (c. 497/6 – 406/5 BCE) is one of the most important and influential tragedians of ancient Greece who wrote over 120 plays, though only seven have survived in full. His work helped shape the Western understanding of tragedy and the tragic hero. He introduced the third actor on stage, allowing for more complex character interactions and deepening the dramatic tension. His characters are more developed and psychologically complex than those of his predecessors, and he is known for his skillful use of dramatic irony, where the audience knows more than the characters. Perhaps his most famous play, Oedipus Rex tells the tragic story of Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who unwittingly fulfills a prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. The play is an exploration of fate, free will, and the limits of human understanding, and it is often cited as the quintessential example of Greek tragedy. Antigonefollows the story of Oedipus' daughter, Antigone, who defies the king’s orders to bury her brother, Polynices, and faces the consequences of her moral and familial duty. Electra focuses on the character of Electra and her quest for revenge against her mother, Clytemnestra, for the murder of her father, Agamemnon. The play delves into themes of justice, revenge, and the psychological effects of grief and anger.
