Sophocles Theban Plays, Oedipus, And Antigone

Sophocles' The Three Theban Plays (King Oedipus, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone) are three tragedies depicting a shift beyond the beliefs of predetermination to the liberties of choice. Throughout the plays, the tragic hero, Oedipus unveils the truth behind the murder of his father, King Laius and the penalties that follow; consequently, Sophocles capably applies human characteristics to Oedipus to appeal at a broader spectrum. Sophocles utilizes vibrant imageries throughout these plays that uncover Oedipus’ humanisms. By illustrating Oedipus as a human, Sophocles sheds light on the truth of Oedipus’ inability to control his future. For this reason, Sophocles’ distinction behind Oedipus’ choices from his altercations symbolically show human
Trying to comfort them, Oedipus states that he sent his brother-in-law Creon, to inquire answers from Oracle on the state of how the city could possibly be protected. As Creon returns, the city of Thebes began to suffer from the insight that the murderer of Lauis, still remains within these walls unpunished. With the death of Oedipus’ father, Oedipus retaliates by cursing the killer, making a vow to protect everyone by hunting him down to bring validity and rightfulness to the citizens of Thebes. As Oedipus goes back into the palace, the Chorus starts to recite in a prayer for Thebes and its upturn but portentously worrying about the outcomes of the results into the past. Oedipus is directed to send for Teiresias, the blind prophet, as he is convinced that Teiresias knows information upon Lauis’ death. Oedipus questions him, “what? Something you know, and will not tell? You mean\To fail us and to see your city perish?”(King Oedipus lines 331-32). Under this notion, Teiresias doesn’t voice much,
Creon arises as the new king, as he distributes a ruling that Polyneices cannot obtain an appropriate burial, for it should be abandoned for the animals to feast on. For Creon, it feels rather justifiable in a sense, for Polyneices is a conspirator, guilty of betrayal for the abuse of power. But the absence of grief and burial rites is sinful beyond the eyes of the Gods, so though many are too frightened to participate, Antigone agrees to give Polyneices a proper burying, further ignoring the civility of the world, and believing in the more “divine law”. To continue, Teiresias further warns Creon that he will soon have to sacrifice his child to compensate for these stiffs. Creon and his wife Eurydice become terrified, as he rushes to release Antigone, only in return, to receive news that she committed suicide, beyond the fashionables of her own clothing, tied, to hang herself. With her soulless body lied Haemon, agonizing in his own tears of what transpired. Furthermore, he grasped his sword and rushed towards his father, for he missed and turned it on himself, killing himself upon the embrace of Antigone. Creon nonetheless, carried Haemon back to the palace to only suffer beyond the news of his wife Eurydice, committing suicide. The messenger informed that, “There at the altar with the whetted knife\She stood, and as the darkness dimmed