This outstanding drama of classical antiquity, part of the Cadmean
trilogy that includes Oedipus Rex and Antigone, was first presented
in 405 B.C. Thought to be among Sophocles' last works, it represents the
great playwright's crowning achievement in depicting the painful quest
for truth and self-knowledge that leads to spiritual triumph.
Blinded and disgraced, Oedipus dwells quietly in Thebes until the
kingdom is roiled by discord attributed to his presence and the curse
put upon him by the gods. The citizens banish their erstwhile sovereign
to years of lonely exile. Finally, the aging king finds refuge in a
sacred olive grove at Colonus, near Athens. In the meantime, Oedipus'
two sons wage a struggle for control of Thebes. Secure in the protection
of Theseus, ruler of Athens, and faithfully attended by his daughters
Antigone and Ismene, Oedipus is a towering tragic figure whose final
years comprise a moving portrayal of the perseverance of human dignity
in the face of an incomprehensible and impersonal universe.
Students, teachers, and lovers of classical drama will welcome this
inexpensive edition of an enduring literary and theatrical landmark.