Three of Sophocles plays, Oedipus, the King , Oedipus At Colonus, and Antigone, are found on the old Hellenic legends about Oedipus and his family. Each of these plays cigarette be better read and more proficienty understand when one understands the tragic consequences that dogged the ruling family of Thebes from the times of its establishment father, Cadmus. Although essentially regarded as myths, the incidents in the three plays may legislate way had some basis in facts drawn from ancient Greek history many centuries before Sophocles time. Such facts, however, are lots distorted by the passage of time and the oral usance by which they were passed from one generation to the bordering. Thus, they become part of folklore or legends.
Oedipus was a direct descendant of Cadmus through his countersign, Polydorus. The latter begot Labdacus, whose countersign Laius was the father of Oedipus. (That is, Oedipus was the grandson of Labdacus who, in turn, was the grandson of Cadmus). All the generations of the Cadmus family suffered a tragic hatful in one way or another.
When Laius, great-grandson of Cadmus, loses his kingdom to Amphion and Zethus, the sons of genus Zeus and Antiope, he finds refuge with Pelops, the son of Tantolus. Laius, however, repays Pelops kindness in a rather cruel way -- by kidnapping his son Chrysippus.
His ungratefulness brings a curse upon Laius and his whole family over the next two generations. Laius gets back his kingdom of Thebes when Amphion and Zethus dies. He then marries Jocasta, sis of Creon. However, Apollo warns Laius that his son will kill him one day as punishment for his abduction of Pelops son.
In an attempt to avoid the fulfillment of the prophecy, Oedipus parents, Laius and Jocasta, give Oedipus to a servant to be taken to Mount Cithaeron, where he is to be deserted. A spike is driven through the kidskins feet to prevent him from crawling away. However, a shepherd finds the babe and brings him to Polybus and Merope, King and Queen of Cornish....If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay
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