Oedipus at Colonus
Written by Sophocles
Presentation by Brittany Wilder and
Cailel Colson

This play was originally
published in 5th-century
B.C. Athens.

Written shortly before Sophocles’
death in 406 B.C.

One of the 3 Theban plays (This
play is his third play)

The setting of this play is
Sophocles’ own birthplace.

All 3 plays written and produced
in Athens, Greece

The play was made into a book.
Oedipus at Colonus was produced
by his grandson at the Festival of
Dionysus (which became a
tradition in 6th-century B.C.). It is
a dramatic festival that occurred
four times a year and is a time to
celebrate and worship Dionysus
(god of wine). They were allowed
to perform a tragic play and it is
said that the tragedies had to be
written in the form of a trilogy.
Oedipus at Colonus

The significance of this title is Oedipus is the main
character and Colonus is the setting of the play. Colonus is
the outskirts of Athens and he is at there sitting upon a
grove because he was exiled. He made himself blind.
Antigone, his daughter, is there to guide him. The grove
that Antigone and Oedipus are sitting on is known to be
holy ground. No one was allowed on this grove. Both
Oedipus and Antigone learn of this when a citizen of this
part of Athens approaches them and claims that they need
to leave the sacred place. Oedipus was told a prophesy
(earlier in his life) that states that he will die at that
certain place and explains that to the local. He sends the
citizen off to go get the king, Theseus.

This setting is literally the prophesy like forreal doe…
 This
Setting
play is set in ancient Greece.
 The
action occurs at a village named Colonus. It is
near the city of Athens.
 This
particular setting relates to the time period.
The 3 Theban plays were all written in Athens,
Greece where the play is set. Greece is known for
its mythology so it is definite that Sophocles made
this setting for these plays for a purpose.
 Something
significant about the setting is that
Sophocles was born in near Athens so he knows
the proper setting and is familiar with it. The
setting is literally the prophesy.
Themes
A person with conviction will overcome all obstacles despite
what the future holds. Ex. Polynices went to war despite his
knowing he would die.
 Your beliefs should be more important to you than the opinions
of others.
Ex. Antigone rebelled Creon’s laws because she believed in the
gods rather than the rules of that society. She yearned to bury her
brother, Polynices, properly. Antigone comes from a family who
puts their beliefs in the gods.
 Violence breeds violence. Ex. Eteocles overthrowing his
brother lead to a war in which they both died.

Conflict

Oedipus had been told a prophecy when he was younger. The gods had
told him that he would die on a grove in a place called Colonus,
outside of Athens. He had kept this prophesy in his heart for many
years. But his son, Polynices and Creon, his brother-in-law insist he be
buried in their kingdom. A citizen of the town was passing by and saw
that Oedipus and Antigone were sitting on the sacred place and told
them to leave. The problem is, Oedipus refuses to leave and even the
Chorus starts cursing him and crying out telling him how dare he
would even come to the holy ground of the gods.

Oedipus also holds internal conflict against both of his sons because
they didn’t try to prevent his exile a few years back.

Protagonists: Oedipus- victim of his family who wants to bury him in
their kingdom rather than from his prophecy
Antigone- helps Oedipus
Theseus- helps Oedipus
Antagonists: Creon- he was a sinkhole
Polynices- rebels against his father’s prophecy
Summary

Oedipus went to a city outside of Athens to a sacred garden. The king Theseus
allowed him the right to stay and even helped him despite knowing calamity
might befall him. Oedipus had been told by Apollo of his death and the
prophecy also said the city where he was buried would receive great fortune.
Oedipus’ son Polynices wanted his fathers blessing to fight his brother
Eteocles for the right to the power. Creon and Polynices came to claim
Oedipus but he denies and admonished his son and hides from his brother.
Polynices goes and fights his brother anyway and they kill one another. Creon
captures Antigone and Ismene. Theseus does as asked by Oedipus and keeps
his burial site a secret.
Characters

Oedipus- father of Antigone, Polynices and Creon

Antigone- helps her blind father out when he is roaming outside the city of
Athens

Polynices- brother of Antigone, wants to battle his brother

Theseus- helps Oedipus out when he is trying to stay at Colonus

Ismene- Antigone’s sister

Stop my children weep no more. Here where the dark forces store up kindness for
both the living and the dead, there is no room for grieving here- it might bring down
the anger of the gods. ( keeps the theme violence makes violence)

The careful leader does not spread alarm unnecessarily. ( a smart leader won’t make
his followers worry about anything but their mission.)

They see you and me: they know my pain's a fact, my revenge is empty breath. ( the
fact the someone is in pain can be clear be revenge is just talk that leads nowhere.)
Reaction to the Play

I suggest that people read this play because it is one of the three trilogies of
Oedipus and his life.

People will understand what his life was like in a better way.

It is hard to comprehend, but easy to understand what the play is about.
