Over the centuries, it has come to be regarded by many as the Greek tragedy par excellence. It deals with that period of the life of King Oedipus when he became the King of Thebes and husband of Jocasta. It is considered as the masterpiece of the master-craftsman, Sophocles. It was the second of Sophocles's three Theban plays to be produced, but it comes first in the internal chronology, followed by Oedipus at Colonus and then Antigone. Summary of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex The play ‘Oedipus Rex’ is also called ‘Oedipus Tyrannus’. The play, which was first performed in 429 BCE, tells the story of Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who is on a quest to uncover the truth about his past and his identity. Having just escaped the Sphinx, searching out Laius's murderer seemed impossible to Creon. Oedipus sends for Tiresias, the blind prophet, to help with the investigation. He orders the people of Thebes, under punishment of exile, to give any information they have about the death of Laius. And Scapegoat’s new translation, like countless others, waits for readers to find new delights in its words, audiences to find new terrors in its enactment and creators to make new meanings of its myth. Oedipus curses the unknown murderer and swears he will find and punish him. Creon is more pragmatic and less inclined to take action. COVID-19 is no longer a global emergency, but in Sophocles’ Thebes, all around Oedipus, the plague rages as ever. Oedipus the King (often known by the Latin title Oedipus Rex) is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed c. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is a masterpiece of Greek literature that is widely studied and analyzed for its use of literary devices. Had his king been murdered, nothing would have stopped him from finding the murderer, just as he is promising to let nothing stop him now.

Translated by Francis Storr (1839 - 1919) Download cover art Download CD case insert Oedipus Rex (Storr Translation)