The Theban Plays of Sophocles

A hauntingly beautiful book with a real sense of tragedy, which is no more evident than in the first play 'Oedipus Rex'. It reminds me somewhat of James Hogg's Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, although in the case of Oedipus he cannot do anything to stop his destiny no matter how hard he tries. Whereas in the former, the main character knows that he is predestined and as such uses that knowledge for malicious intent, knowing that no matter what he does the outcome will always be the same. Oedipus has no idea of his destiny for many years, and acts always in a noble and just manner, coming to the rescue of the people time and again. When he finds out that he has unwittingly wronged, he tries to make amends. Oedipus is never to blame in this, which is what makes it so tragic. No matter what he does, he is hurtling ever closer to fulfilling the prophecies that he is cast out of society as a baby for. Unlike the Shakespearean tragedies they do not have the sense of the ridiculous that plays such as Hamlet does. For me there is real despair in the Theban Plays that is incredibly moving and heart-rending, and should be compulsory reading in all schools.