The Oedipus Trilogy

Synopsis

The Oedipus Trilogy comprises of three Theban plays titled “Oedipus the King”, “Oedipus at Colonus” and “Antigone” written by Sophocles, the ancient Greek tragedian.

The first Play, “Oedipus the King” narrates how Oedipus, a mythical tragic hero fulfilling a prophecy unknowingly which lead to disasters such as killing his father, bringing disasters to his kingdom and marrying his own mother.

Oedipus as an infant was left to death by the King Laius and was adopted by Polybus, the king of Corinth. The grownup Oedipus learning the prophecy not knowing about his real father leaves the Corinth. While moving to the Thebes, he kills a stranger without knowing he was his father. In the precedence he throne the Thebes kingdom after killing the monster and marrying the king’s widow without knowing she was his own mother. The tragedy ends with a note of his mother hangs herself and Oedipus blind himself with pins taken from his mother’s dress.

The second Play, “Oedipus at Colonus” narrates the Oedipus exit from the Thebes after cursed by his own sons and his death at the holy land of Athens.

After Oedipus blinds himself, his sons Eteocles and Polynices, curses and expel him from the Thebes. Oedipus moves away from the Thebes accompanied by his daughters Antigone and Ismene. After his exit Eteocles and Polynices and fights each other for the throne and seeking his father’s support. However Oedipus not supporting any of them and saying both of them will be killed by each other. In the Colonus, Oedipus earns the love of Theseus, the King of Athens. Oedipus dies at Athens and buried at the holy land by the wish of the King as he believed the burial of Oedipus will make his Kingdom harmless forever from the enemies.
 
The Third Play “Antigone” narrates the fall of Oedipus sons and the tragedy of Creon, the new ruler of Thebes, and ending in the death Creon’s Son, Wife and Sons & daughters of Oedipus.

The death of Oedipus opens the fighting between his sons Eteocles and Polyneices for the throne which results in killing themselves in the battlefield. Creon, the new ruler of the Thebes honors the death of Eteocles and decides to leave Polyneices unburied to public shame. His decision is resisted by Antigone, the Daughter of Oedipus and she pledge to bury the body of her brother. In a secret meeting her sister Ismene, reveals her plan but fails to receive support from her. Creon knowing this imprisons the sisters. Creon’s son Haemon, who is engaged to Antigone pledges his father to relieve her. In the preceding incidents Creon decide to release Antigone, however it was too late as Antigone hanged herself, Haemon killed himself and Eurydice dies after cursing her husband Creon.

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