Sophocles, The Oedipus Cycle: Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone by Sophocles

Sophocles, a renowned Greek tragedian and playwright, is best known for his Oedipus Cycle. This trilogy of plays - namely, Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone - is unrelated to any other works by Sophocles, and is written to demonstrate themes of family, ill-fatedness, and the human condition.

The first play of the Oedipus Cycle, Oedipus Rex, introduces us to the fallen ruler of Thebes, King Oedipus. In order to save Thebes from a plague sent by the gods, Oedipus sets out to solve the riddle of the Sphinx living at the city gates. Doing so, Oedipus unknowingly marriage to his own mother, and kills his own father. After gaining knowledge of his terrible fate, Oedipus blinds himself and is later exiled from Thebes.

The second play, Oedipus at Colonus, consists of a reunion between Oedipus, who is now old and blind, and his daughters Ismene and Antigone as they flee Thebes. Eventually they arrive at Colonus, near Athens, where Oedipus is granted sanctuary. Raw emotions are held back until it is revealed that Oedipus was responsible for his exile and blindness, leading to a monumental climax. Oedipus at Colonus proves to be the tragedy of a broken individual and the despair of a family.

The last and most famous of the Oedipus Cycle, Antigone, follows Oedipus' death and the conflicts between Ismene and Antigone, who represent two conflicting principles of ethics. Antigone believes in honoring the gods and fulfilling the rituals entailed by burying her brothers and Ismene fears for her own safety. Inevitable tragedy follows, when Creon, the ruler of Thebes, sentences Antigone to death for attempting to bury her brother Polyneices. In response, Ismene proclaims herself guilty only to be rejected by Antigone. Antigone eventually commits suicide in her tomb, rather than submit to Creon's edicts.

The end of Antigone marks the completion of the Oedipus Cycle. By presenting human nature in an unflinching and honest manner, Sophocles intends to show us the tragic nature of our lives. Crumbling relationships, pain, and many other examples of our own mortality are also present throughout the series of plays.

The Oedipus Cycle by Sophocles is an immortal masterpiece belonging to the Western Canon. Unearthing the power hidden within family relationships, political animosity, and a society that encourages retribution, Sophocles' plays reflect the timeless struggle between good and evil. By incorporating Greek mythology and human sentiment, Sophocles turns tragedies into lessons about life, leaving us with a lasting impression of the human condition.