38 pages • 1 hour read
SophoclesOedipus Rex
Fiction | Play | AdultA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex, King Oedipus of Thebes seeks to end a devastating plague by solving the murder of the former king, Laius. Consulting oracles and prophets, Oedipus slowly unravels a horrific truth: he is the murderer of Laius and has unwittingly married his own mother, Jocasta, fulfilling a dire prophecy.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is widely acclaimed for its masterful plot structure and psychological depth. Reviewers praise its exploration of fate and free will, as well as its complex characters, particularly Oedipus. However, some mention its dense language and challenging themes as potential drawbacks for modern readers. Overall, it remains a profound and influential work in literature.
Who Should Read Oedipus Rex?
Readers who enjoy complex psychological drama and tragic flaws, much like those found in Shakespeare’s Hamlet or Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, will appreciate Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex. The play's exploration of fate, free will, and human suffering appeals to those interested in classical literature and philosophical inquiries.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
NPBook Details
Play: Tragedy
Mythology
Classic Fiction
Philosophy
Religion / Spirituality
Education
Ancient Greece
Relationships: Family
Values/Ideas: Fate