A 3 page essay that argues that in his plays Oedipus the King and Antigone, the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles meant to edify his audience as well as entertain them concerning issues of power. In regards to Sophocles' concept of power and the right to rule, Oedipus portrays the king as embodying the state. Because the king has sinned, the body politic itself is seen as sinful and is, therefore, punished by the gods. Antigone, on the other hand, concerns whether or not the state ever has the right to overrule religious principles. An examination of these two plays shows that in relating both plays to modern society, the lessons of Antigone retain the most relevance, but the lessons of Oedipus are also applicable to a certain extent. No additional sources cited.
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to issues of governance for the city of Thebes, they are also quite different. In regards to Sophocles concept of power and the right to rule, Oedipus portrays the king
as embodying the state. Because the king has sinned, the body politic itself is seen as sinful and is, therefore, punished by the gods. Antigone, on the other hand, concerns
whether or not the state ever has the right to overrule religious principles. An examination of these two plays shows that in relating both plays to modern society, the
lessons of Antigone retain the most relevance, but the lessons of Oedipus are also applicable to a certain extent. In Oedipus, the play begins with an explanation for why
the people are suffering. The crops fail and animals sicken and die because the murder of the previous king, Laius, has not been avenged. Oedipus brother-in-law Creon bring the
news that the murder must be found and banished, "or shedding blood for blood./This stain of blood makes shipwreck of our state" (Oedipus). On hearing this, Oedipus, being a good
king, issues the order that at the close of the play, he himself must obey, as he is banished so that the society can once more receive the blessings of
the gods. Oedipus also inflicts the cost of blood on himself, stabbing out his own eyes. While naturally, in modern democracies, sovereignty is no longer equated with the countrys
leadership. However, the sin of hubris, excessive pride, is still something that leaders should guard against. Oedipus was punished severely for thinking that he could thwart the will of the
gods. Excessive pride can still lead modern politicians into making serious errors in judgement. In Antigone, Sophocles presents a debate that still retains relevance to this day. The issue
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