Theatre Thursday: Oedipus Rex (September 13th, 2018)

Are you a theatre nerd who hasn't yet read or watched all of the cool plays that your other theatre friends keep talking about? Do you have a strange interest in reading dramatic lines of text that you'll quickly get invested in? Do you just like theatre in general? Really? Great! Because these posts are for you! Welcome to Theatre Thursdays, where we take a look at a play (or musical, but probably mostly plays) that are both fun reads and fun to talk about. 

Sophocles's Oedipus Rex by Harold Bloom (Introduction by)

Call Number: 882.2 B655s 1988

ISBN: 0877549184

Publication Date: 1988-01-01

-- Presents the most important 20th-century criticism on major works from The Odyssey through modern literature -- The critical essays reflect a variety of schools of criticism -- Contains critical biographies, notes on the contributing critics, a chronology of the author's life, and an index

This week's topic is Oedipus the King, or more commonly known as Oedipus Rex, or sometimes even Oedipus Tyrannus if you're from Ancient Greece. The play was written by Sophocles, also known as a tragedian who sought to make things both very difficult and very sad. Sophocles also wrote Antigone, which is somewhat of a continuation of Oedipus in an also very difficult and sad light. Sophocles was Ancient Greece's version of Ryan Murphy, creating Grecian Horror Stories instead of American ones. 

But Oedipus is about, well, Oedipus. He's a king, whose father has been killed, and he wants to know who did it. But the twist is that [SPOILER ALERT] he did it! (I know, engaging stuff.) However, the real twist comes when Oedipus finds out that not only did he kill his own father, he also married (and had children with) his own mother! I know, it makes you want to poke your own eyes out, huh? (Wink, wink.) This play also had a hand in spearheading Sigmund Freud's most controversial idea about mothers and their children. But I'll let you read about that one yourself. 

Overall, this play is considered a tragic classic among the ranks of Hamlet. It holds the OG title of "Super Messed Up" while almost inviting you to vomit at the thought of it's ending. The play itself has even been talked about in most theatre classes here at Berea College. If you want to start your theatre reading off with a disgusting bang, I recommend this piece as a good starting point.

Tune in next Thursday night for another fun (and maybe a little messed up) theatre read!