Oedipus Rex
Sophoclesc. 429 BCE
Aristotle held this up as the perfect tragedy, and that judgment has held for 2,400 years.
tragedyAncient Greekaccessibleshort · ~2.0h
Influence
9.0/10
Popularity
7.5/10
“I must hear. I will know the truth.”
Why It Matters
Aristotle held this up as the perfect tragedy, and that judgment has held for 2,400 years. Oedipus's investigation that turns inward — the detective who discovers he is the criminal — is the template for every mystery that ends in self-revelation. The play asks whether a good person can be destroyed by fate, and its answer is terrifying.
The 
Take
Personal reviewClassic book about fate and horror undeserved. Free will vs destiny, and why he had the worst god damn luck. How quickly things can change
Notable Quotes
“Count no man happy till he dies, free of pain at last.”
“You are the curse, the corruption of the land.”