Oedipus Rex
Sophocles
Description
Many years after Oedipus famously solved the riddle of the Sphinx and ascended to the throne, a curse descends upon Thebes in the form of a terrible plague. This persistent blight ravages the land: crops wither in the fields, livestock succumbs to sickness, and families lose women and children. In this dire time, Creon, Oedipus’s brother, returns from the Oracle of Delphi. He brings news of a cure: the plague will lift once the murderer of the late King Laius is identified and banished from the city. To save his people, Oedipus embarks on a quest to uncover the killer’s identity. However, as he delves deeper into his investigation, he begins to unearth shocking revelations about his own origins, and of the prophetic actions that brought the curse.
Oedipus Rex was written for a festival competition, and is thought to have been first performed around 467 BC. While it didn’t win the competition, Aristotle considered it to be the play that best followed his outline for how drama should be composed. Today, it is widely regarded as one of the greatest plays—and perhaps stories—ever written.
Read free
This ebook is thought to be free of copyright restrictions in the United States. It may still be under copyright in other countries. If you’re not located in the United States, you must check your local laws to verify that this ebook is free of copyright restrictions in the country you’re located in before accessing, downloading, or using it.
Download for ereaders
-
Compatible epub — All devices and apps except Kindles and Kobos.
-
azw3 — Kindle devices and apps. Also download the Kindle cover thumbnail to see the cover in your Kindle’s library. Despite what you’ve been told, Kindle does not natively support epub. You may also be interested in our Kindle FAQ.
-
kepub — Kobo devices and apps. You may also be interested in our Kobo FAQ.
-
Advanced epub — An advanced format that uses the latest technology not yet fully supported by most ereaders.
Read online
A brief history of this ebook
More details
Sources
Transcriptions
Page scans
Improve this ebook
Anyone can contribute to make a Standard Ebook better for everyone!
To report typos, typography errors, or other corrections, see how to report errors.
If you’re comfortable with technology and want to contribute directly, check out this ebook’s GitHub repository and our contributors section.
You can also donate to Standard Ebooks to help fund continuing improvement of this and other ebooks.