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Overview
Synopsis
The newly crowned young king of Thebes, Oedipus, having solved the riddle of the sphinx, has married the widowed Theban queen Jocasta and fathered two daughters. A plague, however, has overtaken his kingdom since he took the throne. Through a series of reveals and hubristic missteps that bring Oedipus’ past to light, he discovers that it is Oedipus himself who has brought this ill fate to his city, having fulfilled a prophecy made when he was born–that he would kill his own father and marry his mother. In its tragic ending, Oedipus the King, or Oedipus Rex as is it known by its Latinized name, is the inspiration for many modern literary and social philosophies, including the concepts of hubris, literary tragedy, and the Freudian Oedipal Complex. This Sophoclean drama, first performed in 455 BCE, is the first in the Oedipus trilogy, which follows the tragic lives of Oedipus and his daughters, culminating in the death of Antigone. Sophocles’ Oedipus is not an original story or plot; the myths and characters of the play would have been well-known to the Greek audience. However, classicists believe that Sophocles added the unique and horrifying element of Oedipus’ self-blindness to his production, a new element that would have made a powerful and memorable impact on a well-known story. Today, Oedipus is perhaps the most well-known and one of the most frequently performed Greek tragedy. It is written without any intermission although some directors choose to divide the play into two acts.
Show Information
- Book
- Sophocles
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- palace of oedipus, ancient times, thebes
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- college, professional, university, community, College/University, Diverse Cast, High School, Large Cast, Mature Audiences, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Child, Early Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Silent |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
The response section of an ancient Greek choral ode, following the strophe and preceding the epode.
A sudden realization or insight experienced by a character, often marking a turning point.
A group in Ancient Greek theatre that commented on the action, represented the public, and provided narrative insight.
A body of traditional stories involving gods, heroes, and creation myths. Mythology provides inspiration for characters and narratives in global theatre traditions.
The first section of an ancient Greek choral ode, paired with the antistrophe and epode in a formal structure.
A dramatic genre involving serious themes and the downfall of a protagonist, often evoking catharsis from the audience.
A protagonist whose downfall results from a fatal flaw, central to classical and modern tragedy.
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