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Classical Reference Library

Lecture

Lectures offering accessible explorations of major works, authors, ideas, and intellectual traditions.

Sophocles

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CRITICAL ESSAY

Fate, Freedom, and the Tragic Hero in Oedipus the King

What makes Oedipus a tragic hero? Ian Johnston examines the tension between fate and free will in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, arguing that the very qualities that make Oedipus great—his intelligence, courage, confidence, and relentless pursuit of truth—also lead him toward catastrophe.

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