Major Works

Of the seven complete plays of Sophocles, each offers a distinctive exploration of moral and existential conflict. The most famous, *Oedipus Tyrannus*, has long been regarded as the epitome of tragic form. The drama recounts the story of a ruler whose relentless search for truth leads to the discovery of his own guilt: he is both the saviour and the destroyer of Thebes. The power of the play lies in its architectural precision—the unity of time, place, and action—and in the devastating irony that the very qualities that make Oedipus a great king—his intelligence, courage, and determination—also precipitate his downfall. Sophocles thus transforms myth into an inquiry into human nature. The tragedy invites reflection on the paradox of knowledge and ignorance, the fragility of reason before destiny, and the dignity of endurance in suffering.

Closely linked to *Oedipus Tyrannus* is *Oedipus at Colonus*, a work of serene grandeur written near the end of Sophocles’ life. In this final drama, the aged and exiled Oedipus finds refuge and redemption at Colonus, the poet’s own birthplace. The play is imbued with an atmosphere of sacred reconciliation. The suffering of the past is transfigured into spiritual insight, and the hero’s death becomes a mysterious apotheosis. It stands as a meditation on mortality, forgiveness, and divine acceptance—a fitting conclusion both to the Oedipus cycle and to Sophocles’ own career.

Another of Sophocles’ masterpieces, *Antigone*, explores the tension between individual conscience and state authority. The defiance of Antigone, who chooses to bury her brother Polynices in defiance of King Creon’s decree, raises questions about moral duty, loyalty, and the limits of power. Sophocles presents no simple opposition between right and wrong; both characters embody legitimate principles, yet their inflexibility leads to ruin. The tragedy’s enduring resonance lies in its portrayal of ethical conflict within the human heart. Through the figure of Antigone, Sophocles affirms the autonomy of moral conviction even in the face of political tyranny.

In *Electra*, Sophocles revisits the myth of the House of Atreus, focusing on the psychological anguish of a daughter consumed by grief and vengeance. Unlike Aeschylus, who framed the same story within a theology of justice, Sophocles centres the action on personal emotion and moral complexity. Electra’s obsessive longing for revenge becomes both heroic and pitiable, revealing the tension between justice and passion. Similarly, *Philoctetes* portrays the isolation of the wounded hero abandoned on Lemnos, whose bitterness gives way to reconciliation. Here, Sophocles demonstrates profound understanding of human suffering and the possibility of ethical renewal.