A review by ed_moore
Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

“When wisdom brings no profit to be wise is to suffer” 

Sophocles sets ‘Oedipus Rex’ once Oedipus has solidified his position as king of Thebes and vows to end the cities plague by finding the murderer of the previous king Laius. It is a play focused on the concept of blindness, both literal and a blindness to the truth which serves as the hubris for Oedipus in his tragic fall. The tragedy of Oedipus is such a familiar story and retold myth so I knew the outcome throughout and am not sure if a lack of knowledge of such would’ve increased the intensity and shock of the play, as in challenging prophecy it is a brilliant warning against challenging fate on many levels but am not sure if it could have been even more enhanced with a bit of ignorance. This being said I did prefer it to ‘Antigone’ (having read the third of the Theban plays before the former two) and when I read such I was unaware of ‘Antigone’s’ plot line. Seeing Creon as a loyal right hand in ‘Oedipus Rex’ was extremely interesting however, as his shift in loyalties (and if he ever really did do any wrong despite such) certainly has a lot of weight in such discussion.