In both Oedipus the King and Antigone, the title characters have their fate established for them by the gods, or preordained. free will is one of the most prevailing themes in both Antigone and Oedipus the King. Antigone is Oedipus's daughter, suggesting that the ill fate of the father is passed down to his children.įate vs. When the chorus states, 'O hapless, and child of hapless sire,-Of Oedipus!' The audience is reminded of the fact that Oedipus killed his father and married his mother (Sophocles, Antigone). After all, the Chorus in Antigone introduces the title character by mentioning the bad luck of her father. Sophocles knows that his viewing audience was already familiar with the stories of Oedipus and Antigone, so it was not like he was giving a 'spoiler' when telling the story of Antigone first. Telling the story of the Oedipus family out of chronological order has a profound impact on the reader. human laws becomes very important to the respective outcomes of Antigone and Oedipus Rex.Īlthough Sophocles wrote Antigone before he wrote Oedipus the King, the events in Antigone actually happen after the events that take place in Oedipus the King. How the characters obey and disobey divine vs. Both of these plays distinguish between these two types of laws. Another theme that is shared in common between Antigone and Oedipus Rex is the difference between human laws and divine laws. The will of the gods will always be stronger than the will of human beings, Sophocles suggests in both Antigone and Oedipus Rex. Free will is shown to be contrary to one's greater good, too. In both these plays, fate strangles the main characters and prevents the full expression of their free wills. One of the themes that is shared in common between Antigone and Oedipux Rex is that of fate vs. In addition to the continuity of characters and events between Antigone and Oedipus the King, there are thematic similarities between the two plays. The outcome of the Antigone play has an influence on Oedipus and vice-versa. Therefore, they share the same fate due to their common blood. Second, the title characters in the plays are related, as Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus. Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex) is the second of the trilogy. Antigone is the first installment in the series of three plays. For one, they are part of the same set of texts by Sophocles.

In many ways, these plays are similar to one another as tragedies.

Antigone and Oedipus Rex are both tragic plays by Sophocles.

Antigone oedipus rex