Sophocles’ Oedipus the King
Student’s Guide | Classical Reference Library
Richer Resources Editorial Team
About This Guide
Oedipus the King tells the story of a man searching for the truth about a terrible crime. What makes the story unusual is that the person conducting the investigation is also the person whose identity is ultimately revealed.
This guide will help you follow the action, understand the characters, and think about the questions Sophocles raises.
1. Before You Begin
Sophocles was an ancient Greek playwright who lived in the fifth century BCE. His plays were performed before large audiences at religious festivals in Athens.
Oedipus the King takes place in Thebes, a city in ancient Greek mythology.
When the play begins, Oedipus is already king. Years earlier, he saved Thebes by solving the riddle of the Sphinx, a dangerous creature that threatened the city. The grateful people made him their ruler.
Now Thebes faces another disaster: a plague is killing its people and destroying its prosperity.
Oedipus must discover what is wrong and how to save the city.
2. The Story at a Glance
The people of Thebes turn to Oedipus for help. An oracle has declared that the city must deal with the unsolved murder of its former king, Laius.
Oedipus promises to find the murderer.
The blind prophet Tiresias tells him something shocking: Oedipus himself is responsible for Laius’s death.
Oedipus refuses to believe him.
As Oedipus questions people who know about the past, he begins to uncover facts about his own childhood and family.
He eventually learns that he unknowingly killed his father, Laius, and married his mother, Jocasta.
Jocasta dies by suicide. Overwhelmed by the discovery, Oedipus blinds himself.
The king who set out to uncover a murderer has discovered the truth about himself.
3. Meet the Characters
Oedipus — King of Thebes. Intelligent, brave, determined, and sometimes quick-tempered. He wants to save his people and uncover the truth.
Jocasta — Oedipus’s wife and the widow of the former king, Laius. She tries to reassure Oedipus when he begins to fear the truth.
Creon — Jocasta’s brother. He brings back the oracle’s instructions and later becomes the target of Oedipus’s suspicions.
Tiresias — A blind prophet who knows the truth about Laius’s death. Oedipus becomes angry when Tiresias accuses him.
The Messenger — A man from Corinth who brings news that seems comforting but leads to further discoveries about Oedipus’s birth.
The Shepherd — A former servant of Laius whose testimony reveals the final pieces of Oedipus’s history.
The Chorus — A group of Theban elders who respond to events, express the city’s fears, and reflect on what is happening.
4. Following the Investigation
The play is easier to understand if you pay attention to how each new piece of information changes what Oedipus believes.
First Clue: The Oracle
The city must find and address the murderer of Laius.
Oedipus believes he is investigating someone else’s crime.
Second Clue: Tiresias
Tiresias accuses Oedipus himself.
Oedipus thinks the prophet may be involved in a plot against him.
Third Clue: The Crossroads
Jocasta describes where Laius was killed.
Oedipus remembers killing a man during a quarrel at a crossroads. He begins to wonder whether he was responsible.
Fourth Clue: The News from Corinth
A messenger reports that Polybus, whom Oedipus believes is his father, has died.
But the messenger also reveals that Polybus was not Oedipus’s biological father.
Final Clue: The Shepherd
The shepherd confirms where the infant Oedipus came from.
Oedipus finally understands who his parents were and what he has done.
As you read: Notice that Oedipus does not discover the truth all at once. Each new clue changes the meaning of information he already possesses.
5. Important Themes
Fate and Choice
Before Oedipus was born, a prophecy foretold that he would kill his father and marry his mother.
Several characters try to prevent this from happening. Nevertheless, the prophecy is fulfilled.
Does this mean that people have no control over their lives? Or do their choices still matter, even when they cannot control the final outcome?
Knowledge and Ignorance
Oedipus is famous for his intelligence, yet he does not know the truth about his own family.
Tiresias cannot see physically, but he understands what Oedipus does not.
Sophocles asks us to consider the difference between looking at something and truly understanding it.
Responsibility
Oedipus does not know that the man he kills is his father or that the woman he marries is his mother.
Can someone be responsible for terrible consequences without having intended them?
The play does not offer a simple answer.
Pride and Leadership
Oedipus wants to protect Thebes. He is decisive and courageous.
But he is also quick to accuse people who disagree with him.
Think about how the qualities that make him a strong ruler sometimes interfere with his judgment.
6. A Literary Technique: Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something important that a character does not.
Many ancient Greek spectators already knew the story of Oedipus.
When Oedipus promises to punish Laius’s murderer, the audience may understand that he is unknowingly speaking about himself.
This makes his words more powerful and sometimes painful to hear.
As you read, look for moments when Oedipus’s words mean more than he realizes.
7. Questions to Think About
- Why do the people of Thebes trust Oedipus at the beginning of the play?
- Why does Oedipus become angry with Tiresias?
- At what point does Oedipus begin to suspect the truth?
- Why does Jocasta want Oedipus to stop asking questions?
- Which of Oedipus’s qualities do you admire? Which cause problems?
- Does Oedipus make meaningful choices, even though a prophecy seems to determine his future?
- Is discovering the truth always a good thing?
- How does your opinion of Oedipus change by the end?
8. Reading Tips
Keep track of names. Laius is the former king of Thebes. Polybus is the king of Corinth whom Oedipus believes to be his father. Confusing these two men can make the investigation difficult to follow.
Watch for changes in understanding. A statement that seems unimportant early in the play may become crucial later.
Notice what characters believe. Characters often act on information that turns out to be incomplete or mistaken.
Pay attention to the Chorus. Its songs show how the people of Thebes respond to events and help connect Oedipus’s personal crisis with the fate of the city.
Look beyond the ending. The play is not simply about a terrible discovery. It also asks what it means to know yourself, accept responsibility, and recognize the limits of human understanding.
9. After You Finish Reading
Consider this question:
Is Oedipus a great man brought down by circumstances beyond his control, or does his own character contribute to his downfall?
You may find evidence for both interpretations.
Choose two or three moments from the play that support your view. Explain not only what happens, but why those moments matter.
A Final Thought
At the beginning of Oedipus the King, Oedipus believes he knows who he is: a successful ruler, a husband, a father, and the man who once saved Thebes.
By the end, nearly everything he believed about his life has changed.
The tragedy invites us to think about how much we truly know about ourselves—and what happens when we discover that our understanding has been incomplete.
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