Sophocles Essays

College

Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King

Athenian citizens believed they had no volition in life, but rather contended with a lack of free will and choice as they struggled with the presence of oracles and belief of destiny. They accepted that deities could foresee the future and select...

College

Electra by Sophocles

The play Electra by Sophocles has long been regarded as an excellent tragedy, from Cicero calling it a “masterpiece” (Csapo 67) to widespread modern praise. However, most of the critical discourse centers not around evaluating the larger picture...

Electra by Sophocles

In Sophocles’ Electra the driving force behind the plot is the notion of achieving justice outside of a formal justice system. The play shows how seeking justice can quickly turn into plotting revenge. Without any formal authority, cycles of...

College

Philoctetes

During his greatest time of need, Philoctetes is cast away by the people he trusted the most. He becomes unbearable as his snake bite serves as a barrier between him and his people and is left to be forgotten on the island of Lemnos. Although...