Sophocles’ Oedipus at Colonus
Student’s Guide | Classical Reference Library
Richer Resources Editorial Team
About This Guide
In Oedipus at Colonus, the once-powerful king of Thebes is now old, blind, and living in exile. Guided by his daughter Antigone, he arrives at Colonus, near Athens, and asks for a place of refuge.
This guide will help you follow the story and consider what it means to be treated with dignity after suffering.
Before You Read
Sophocles wrote this play near the end of his life; it was first performed after his death, in 401 BCE.
The action takes place after Oedipus has learned that he unknowingly killed his father and married his mother. You do not need to know every detail of the earlier myth, but remember that Oedipus has lost his kingship and home.
Colonus was a place near Athens and was also Sophocles’ birthplace.
The Story at a Glance
Oedipus and Antigone reach a sacred grove at Colonus. The local people are uneasy about their arrival. Oedipus believes a prophecy connects this place with the end of his life.
Theseus, king of Athens, promises to protect him.
Ismene, Oedipus’s other daughter, brings news of a struggle between his sons, Eteocles and Polynices. Both sides want the advantage associated with Oedipus’s final resting place.
Creon tries to take Oedipus back to Thebes by force and seizes his daughters, but Theseus rescues them.
Polynices asks his father for support; Oedipus refuses and curses his sons.
Near the end, Oedipus leads Theseus to a secret place and disappears in a mysterious death. The place of his burial is to protect Athens.
Meet the Characters
Oedipus — Former king of Thebes, now blind and exiled; determined to defend his dignity.
Antigone — His daughter and faithful guide, who cares for him throughout his journey.
Ismene — His other daughter, who brings news from Thebes and helps her father.
Theseus — King of Athens, who offers Oedipus refuge and protection.
Creon — A Theban leader who tries to control Oedipus for his city’s advantage.
Polynices — Oedipus’s son, who seeks his father’s support in a conflict over Thebes.
Chorus — Elders of Colonus who respond to Oedipus’s arrival and the events that follow.
Important Themes
Exile and belonging: What does it mean to be without a home, and how should strangers be treated?
Responsibility: Oedipus argues that he did not knowingly commit the acts for which he has suffered. Does intention matter?
Family loyalty: Antigone and Ismene support their father, while Oedipus feels abandoned by his sons.
Power and justice: Theseus offers protection; Creon uses threats and force.
Dignity after suffering: Oedipus cannot undo his past, but he seeks respect and some control over his final decisions.
Sacred places: The grove and Oedipus’s secret resting place give the ending religious and political importance.
What to Notice as You Read
Watch how the people of Colonus respond to Oedipus before and after they learn more about him.
Notice the difference between what Theseus promises and what Creon attempts.
Listen closely when Oedipus explains his past: he distinguishes what happened from what he intended.
Consider why the location of his death matters so much to both Athens and Thebes.
A Literary Feature: The Sacred Setting
The grove at Colonus is not merely a backdrop. It is sacred ground, and Oedipus believes it is where his long journey must end.
The setting creates a sense of mystery and helps explain why his final resting place becomes important to the city that protects him.
Questions to Think About
- Why are the people of Colonus initially afraid of Oedipus?
- What does Oedipus say about his responsibility for his past?
- How does Theseus treat Oedipus differently from Creon?
- What do Antigone and Ismene show through their actions?
- Why does Polynices want his father’s support?
- Do you think Oedipus is fair to Polynices? Why or why not?
- Why must the place of Oedipus’s death remain secret?
- Has Oedipus found peace by the end of the play? What evidence supports your answer?
After You Finish
Compare Oedipus at the beginning and end of the play. He does not regain his throne or erase his suffering, but his position changes.
Choose two scenes that show how he gains—or fails to gain—dignity, protection, or authority. Support your view with details from the text.
A Final Thought
Oedipus at Colonus asks whether a person should be defined forever by the worst events of a life.
It also asks what a community owes to someone who is vulnerable and far from home.
These questions give the play a meaning beyond the ancient story.
Note to the Reader
Different translations may use different wording and line numbers. Use the version assigned in your class when citing passages.
A printable PDF version of this resource is available by email.
