Sophocles, Seneca and the Legend of King Oedipus

             The legend of King Oedipus has withstood the test of time in its existence through many centuries. Sophocles, an Ancient Greek Playwright, composed the most renowned version of this epic tale. Seneca published another version, and although it is considered the lesser of the two, it is still a popular edition. Both of the recounts focus on the same story but engender different interpretations. These differences were not inadvertent. However, they were due to the different time periods the both of them had grown up in. It is believed that Seneca lived approximately four hundred years following Sophocles.
             Every play told about Oedipus portrays similar themes and these two plays are no exception to the rule. The focal points of any Oedipus story are the sins committed by Oedipus. For example, the murder of his father and the intimacy he experiences with his mother are cardinal sins by almost all standards. The majority of the play is also centered on Fate. The idea that one cannot escape the predetermined plans of a divine being echo throughout both depictions of the story. As a result of the same basic plot flowing through the play, they begin from the same point. The majority of the characters remain the same despite a few minor details amongst both versions. Slight differences occur in the plot lines, but the greater differences lye within the general pacing of the play and the use/purpose of the chorus. In general, Sophocles' play is the accepted version to which all others are compared to and Seneca's play, while still the same theme, is less recognized.
             One of the main differences noticed, as the plays progress, is the varying pace. The pacing of these plays makes a difference in their effectiveness and popularity. In Sophocles' rendition, the time and spacing between the main events is even and consistent. In Seneca's version, however, the timing is altered. In the beginning of his plays, he adds a lot of details about the ...

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Sophocles, Seneca and the Legend of King Oedipus. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 10:01, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/88313.html