Sophocles's Oedipus is perhaps the most famous tragedy ever written. It follows the principles of Aristotle's unities of time, place, and action and most of the story unfolds through the dialogue of the characters.
             Oedipus is king of Thebes which has been succumbed to sickness and death. Creon, the brother of the queen Jocasta, travels to the oracle Apollo to seek a remedy to the plague. Upon his return, it is revealed that for health and prosperity to return to Thebes, the murderer of the previous king and Jocasta's first husband Laius must, in turn, be killed.
             Oedipus curses the man who brought this on his people and sets out to determine his identity. He first calls upon Tiresias, a blind prophet, who accused Oedipus himself of being the one he seeks. In his rage, Oedipus throws the old man out and is convinced that Creon has conspired with the old man in an attempt to take the crown. When Creon hears of these accusations, he comes to reason with Oedipus, as does Jocasta, and the three determine that the old man and the oracle Apollo are wrong. Oedipus then receives news from Corinth that his father, the King, has died. Remembering that the oracle had once foretold that Oedipus was destined to kill his father and marry his mother, he finds comfort in his father's death, for he did not inflict it so the prophecy must have been false and the oracle as well as the blind prophet not reliable. However, as Oedipus and Jocasta get deeper into conversation with the messenger from Corinth, it comes to the surface that the King had not been Oedipus' true father and the story of the child Jocasta and Laius are presented. Jocasta, in her upset state, runs into the castle, and Oedipus continues to realize that he did indeed kill his father Laius and marry his mother, Jocasta. In his disgust, he runs into the castle, finds Jocasta dead, and gouges out his eyes with broaches from her dressing gown. He then begs Creon to banish him ...