Sophocles,_Oedipus_Rex,_And_The_Downfall_Of_Oedipus

Sophocles, Oedipus Rex, And The Downfall Of Oedipus Sophocles was born about 496 B.C. in Colonus Hippus, the son of Sophillus, reportedly a wealthy armor-maker. He was provided with the best education possible. As a young man he was chosen to lead the chorus of youths who celebrated the naval victory at Salamis in 480 B.C, an honor that suggests that he was handsome and talented. At the age of 28 he won a dramatic competition against a guy who was undefeated. He won first prize in these competitions over 20 times and many second prizes. Sophocles composed more than 100 plays, of which seven complete tragedies and fragments of 80 or 90 others preserved. All of the tragedies, including Oedipus Rex are considered outstanding for their powerful, intricate plots and dramatic style. Many scholars consider Sophocles the greatest of the Greek tragedians. Two important innovations he was noted for was increasing the number of actors from two to three, thus lessening the influence of the chorus and making possible greater complication of the plot and more effective portrayal of characters by contrast and coincidence; and he changed the composing of plays in groups of three, each of them part of a oedipus, sophocles, tragedy, tragedies, rex, own, justice, dramatic, about, won, wisdom, two, three, thebes, takes, something, served, possible, plots, plays, plague, out, occurs, man, made, himself, high, end, each, done, creon, committed, chorus, characters, bc