OEDIPUS THE KINGBy: SOPHOCLES

Greek Literature:Over a period of more than ten centuries, the ancient Greeks created a literature of such brilliance that it has rarely been equaled and never surpassed. In poetry, tragedy, comedy, and history, Greek writers created masterpieces that have inspired, influenced, and challenged readers to the present day.

To suggest that all Western literature is no more than a footnote to the writings of classical Greece is an exaggeration, but it is nevertheless true that the Greek world of thought was so far-ranging that there is scarcely an idea discussed today that was not debated by the ancient writers. The only body of literature of comparable influence is the Bible.

The language in which the ancient authors wrote was Greek. Like English, Greek is an Indo-European language; but it is far older. Its history can be followed from the 14th century BC to the present. Its literature, therefore, covers a longer period of time than that of any other Indo-European language.

Scholars have determined that the Greek alphabet was derived from the Phoenician alphabet. During the period from the 8th to the 5th century BC, local differences caused the forms of letters to vary from one city-state to another within Greece. From the 4th century BC on, however, the alphabet became uniform throughout the Greek world. 

SOPHOCLES

 

SOPHOCLES, one of the most influential writers of Ancient Greece, was most likely born in 497 B.C., a few years before the Battle of Marathon. in 490 B.C. Probably, his place of birth is in Attica. He comes from a rather wealthy family

. His father, Sop illus, was a rich member of the rural deme of Colonus Hippies. Some believe that Sophillus had been a carpenter, smith, or a sword – maker and he probably owned an "armaments business" for which many carpenters and smiths had worked. The village, Colonus, latter to become a setting for Sophocles’ plays, was situated north-west of Athens, and about a mile distant from the city. “White Colonus” was the place for his childhood, and he later remembered his beautiful boyhood in works, such as Oedipus Coloneus.

 Oedipus the King is generally considered his most representative work. Aristotle considered it a perfect tragedy. As well as all his works, this tragedy talks about fatalism, a traditional theme for Greek literature. Something specific to Sophocles is to focus upon the interior life of his characters. This kind of view was to be considered a very modern approach, in fact the early introduction of psycho-analysis technique to the dramatic writings. The plot is about Oedipus, main character, who kills his father and marries his mother in an attempt to avoid the very prophecy he ultimately fulfills .

Oedipus the King

Oedipus the King

Oedipus cannot escape his fate, but he finally finds peace, after enduring the worst the fates had to offer. Oedipus still is the most played tragedy of all Greek theater. Most of the story takes place before the first line of the play. Oedipus, the protagonist or the main character, is the son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta of Thebes. An oracle predicts that Laius is " doomed/ To perish by the hand of his own son.” After learning this, he decides to deliver Oedipus, his infant son, to a servant, with orders to kill him. But the servant has not got the strength to fulfill the king’s request and, instead abandons the baby in the fields, as the believes the baby's fate has to be decided by the gods.

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