Sophocles – The Three Theban Plays

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The Three Theban Plays by Sophocles

Translated by Robert Fagles
Penguin Classics Edition

1. Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex)

Summary

A plague ravages Thebes. Oedipus, king of Thebes, vows to find the cause. A prophecy reveals that the city suffers because the murderer of the former king, Laius, is still at large. As Oedipus investigates, he slowly uncovers a horrific truth: he himself is the killer, having unknowingly slain his father and married his mother, Jocasta. When the truth is revealed, Jocasta hangs herself, and Oedipus blinds himself in despair.

Key Characters

  • Oedipus – King of Thebes; unknowingly fulfills a prophecy to kill his father and marry his mother.
  • Jocasta – Queen of Thebes, wife and mother to Oedipus.
  • Creon – Jocasta’s brother; serves as Oedipus’s brother-in-law and advisor.
  • Tiresias – Blind prophet who knows the truth.
  • Laius – Former king of Thebes, Oedipus’s father, whom Oedipus kills unknowingly.
  • Shepherd/Messenger – Knows of Oedipus’s true origins.

Themes & Wisdom

  • Fate vs. Free Will – You may try to escape fate, but doing so may fulfill it.
  • Blindness and Insight – True vision requires inner sight; Oedipus sees clearly only after blinding himself.
  • The Danger of Pride (Hubris) – Oedipus’s pride in his intellect blinds him to truth.

Moral Lessons

  • Humility before the mysteries of life is essential.
  • Seeking truth has consequences—sometimes painful, but necessary for growth.
  • Tragedy can be a form of awakening.

2. Oedipus at Colonus

Summary

Now blind and exiled, Oedipus wanders with his daughter Antigone and finds refuge in Colonus, a village near Athens. There, he is offered final rest. Oedipus becomes a sacred figure; his burial site will bring protection to the city that shelters him. His other daughter, Ismene, brings news of political unrest in Thebes. Creon and his son Polynices try to manipulate Oedipus for their own ends. Oedipus, however, refuses and curses Polynices. He dies mysteriously, embraced by the gods.

Key Characters

  • Oedipus – Now a blind outcast, seeking peace before death.
  • Antigone – Loyal daughter and guide to Oedipus.
  • Ismene – Oedipus’s other daughter; brings news from Thebes.
  • Theseus – King of Athens; noble and just, he grants sanctuary to Oedipus.
  • Creon – Tries to forcibly bring Oedipus back to Thebes.
  • Polynices – Oedipus’s son, seeking his father’s blessing for war.

Themes & Wisdom

  • Redemption through Suffering – Oedipus finds dignity in death after a life of pain.
  • Sanctuary and Hospitality – Athens represents justice and kindness.
  • Sacred Death – Death is not an end, but a divine transformation.

Moral Lessons

  • Time and suffering can lead to spiritual clarity.
  • True nobility lies not in birth or power, but in character.
  • Forgiveness is powerful, but some betrayals go beyond pardon.

3. Antigone

Summary

After Oedipus’s death, his sons Eteocles and Polynices kill each other in a war for Thebes. Creon becomes king and honors Eteocles but forbids burial of Polynices. Antigone defies this decree and buries her brother, claiming divine law is greater than human law. Creon imprisons her. His son Haemon (Antigone’s fiancé) pleads for her, but Creon refuses. A prophet warns Creon of divine punishment. Too late, Creon tries to reverse his actions. Antigone, Haemon, and Creon’s wife all die. Creon is left in ruin.

Key Characters

  • Antigone – Daughter of Oedipus, stands for divine justice and familial loyalty.
  • Creon – King of Thebes, represents state law and authority.
  • Ismene – Antigone’s sister, cautious and law-abiding.
  • Haemon – Creon’s son, in love with Antigone; tries to reason with his father.
  • Tiresias – Blind prophet who warns Creon.
  • Eurydice – Creon’s wife; takes her own life after Haemon dies.

Themes & Wisdom

  • Divine Law vs. Human Law – True justice transcends human authority.
  • Individual Conscience vs. Authority – Moral integrity requires courage.
  • Tragic Stubbornness – Creon’s rigid pride leads to downfall.

Moral Lessons

  • Respect for the divine and natural law is paramount.
  • Pride and power without wisdom lead to ruin.
  • Sometimes, doing the right thing means standing alone.

Final Reflection

These three plays form a complete arc:

  1. Oedipus’s fall (Oedipus the King),
  2. His path to redemption (Oedipus at Colonus),
  3. And the legacy of his children (Antigone).

They are about the fragility of human knowledge, the inevitability of fate, and the courage to uphold truth even in the face of ruin.

“Count no man happy until he is dead.” — a central idea repeated in all three works.

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