Oedipus Rex: an excellent view into an important culture and into our own

Sophocles really was a genius when he turned the legend of Oedipus Rex into a theatrical piece in the 5th century B.C. This tragedy gives an excellent outlook on relationships between people, between family and on one's true self and identity...Who am I really?

The story takes place in Thebes during a time of plague. The priest and the people plead Oedipus Rex to solve the problem and to put an end to the plague for he had already once solved the mystery of the Sphinx. Therefore Oedipus Rex sends Creon, the queen's brother, to seek out the oracle and the resolution to the plague. Creon returns with news from Apollo saying that there is a taint in the land, and with it's elimination, the plague would be lifted. As a result, throughout the rest of the play, Oedipus Rex searches for the cause of the taint, and eventually he leads his own inquiry to discover his true identity realizing in the end that he is in fact one of the main causes of this curse.

This play is so well written that it's difficult not to get personally involved in the story. Thanks to the tragic irony, the fact that the truth spoken is obvious to the spectators and to the reader but unknown by the person saying it, the suspense is constantly revived and the mystery continues.

I happened to be lucky enough to study this piece of literature this year, and I have to say that this play is fascinating, especially if you're interested in philosophy or psychology. After reading the play, we can easily understand Freud's "Oedipus Rex complex" of man's desire to commit parricide and take up the father's role to be with the mother. It's also interesting to note that throughout the play, everything happens for a reason. Fate controls every action made, and man is powerless when faced with destiny, hence the importance of Oedipus Rex's final retaliation at the end of the last scene.
In order to understand many aspects of our modern culture, we must go to the roots...and Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex" is one of these roots. I highly suggest reading this play and appreciating all the riches it has to give.