Oedipus Rex is a tragedy written by Sophocles in 429 BC. It is the second part of a trilogy that also includes Oedipus the King and Antigone. The story chronicles the life and death of Oedipus, the king of Thebes and his sons, Eteocles and Polynices, after their defeat at the hands of Creon.
The play begins with Tiresias’ prophecy that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother. To avoid this fate, Oedipus flees from Corinth to Thebes with his mother and father (the latter of whom had been given away by Laius). Once there, however, he unknowingly kills Laius when he learns that he was responsible for sending him away from his home city in order to protect him from such an act occurring.
Oedipus then marries Jocasta (his mother) and has four children: Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles and Polynices (with Jocasta). When Creon becomes king of Thebes after Laius’ death (he assumes responsibility for both) he decrees that Polynices must remain exiled.
The story follows Oedipus as he struggles with his identity and tries to uncover the truth about himself. The audience witnesses him confronting his past and attempting to find his place in society. In the end, he finds peace with himself through self-knowledge.
