Oedipus at Colonus by Sophocles | In-Depth Summary & Analysis

Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth summary and analysis of Prologos from Sophocles's play Oedipus at Colonus.


Sophocles's play Oedipus at Colonus is, chronologically, the second of Sophocles's Theban plays. It follows the events of Oedipus Rex, in which the title character blinds himself after finding out he has married his mother.

Oedipus has since led an itinerant existence, wandering with his daughter Antigone. They stop to rest at Colonus, a sacred village outside Athens. However, when the locals learn who he is, they insist that he leave.

He finds out that the King's two sons are warring with each other and with his successor Creon for the throne of Thebes. A prophecy had ordained that whichever side housed Oedipus's tomb would be victorious.

Oedipus sends word to Theseus, the Athenian king, and offers to be buried at Colonus, ensuring Athens's victory over Thebes in any future conflicts. Though Creon and his son Polyneices both attempt to turn the prophecy to their advantage, Oedipus is resolute and dies at Colonus.

Antigone and Ismene decide to return to Thebes.

Ancient Greek playwright Sophocles's Oedipus at Colonus was first performed in 401 BCE. By far the most successful of the major tragic playwrights in ancient Greece, Sophocles is known for his ability to change his style of language depending on the emotional weight of each scene. He is also recognized for his clear depictions of the painful struggles his main characters endure as they face their tragic situations.

The tragic play Oedipus at Colonus contains many important themes, including the terrors of old age, as Sophocles offers no compensations for the pain of growing old; unexpected visitors, as the sudden arrivals and departures signal the unpredictability and harshness of the characters' experiences, which are represented as part of the suffering inherent in human life; and guilt versus innocence, as Oedipus never tries to downplay the seriousness of his crimes, but refuses to condemn himself for them.


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[tofoo]

Thank you for helping me right before my English Honors Quiz.

[Bearerofthecurs]

Doing a course called Humanities for senior year and this book is required for summer reading. I hate summer reading, can't remember the last time I actually did one. Hate reading. Especially when its required. The only time I actually liked reading for school was Junior year. My English teacher made reading fun. The books were good too. we read "The Things They Carried" for trimester 1, "The Cruicible" for trimester 2, and finally "The Great Gatsby" for trimester 3. I have to do a project and thers a list to choose from but I chose to do five drawings about events. I have like 20% of the book left but I dont wanna read it. so I came to this video hoping to find visuals and ideas to use. Screw summer reading.

[davidslaven]

what would be a good beginning paragraph for an essay on this play?

[tariqabdalmjeid]

You are fabulous and great teacher of all time

[realmoffc]

First view btw I am following you since beginning for mov