“'Tragedy is an imitation not of men, but of action and life, of happiness and misery'” (Milch 12). This statement by Aristotle reflects the ideas depicted in the play Oedipus Rex. Written by Sophocles, Oedipus Rex is a play that combines tragedy with irony to tell the story of a noble king who fails to live up to his greatness. The work was written around 430 BC and originally intended for an Athenian audience. They considered Sophocles their most successful playwright and as a result his works continued to be highly regarded throughout the Greek world long after his death. A closer examination of this work is necessary to understand why it has been considered Sophocles' masterpiece and the greatest of all Greek tragedies (Milch 16, 36). In the Prologue, Oedipus leaves his palace and encounters a crowd of Thebians. A priest tells him that the people have gathered to ask Oedipus to free the city from a terrible plague that has caused many illnesses and death. Although Oedipus is not a god, his people trust him not only because of his wisdom, intelligence and wit, but also because he once freed the city from the plague of the Sphinx (a monster with the body of a lion, the wings of a bird and face of a woman) (Sophocles 424-425). A priest says: As for the man safest in mortal ways and wisest in the ways of God. You have saved us from the Sphinx, that singer of stone, and from the tribute we have paid her so long; yet you were never better informed than we were, nor could we teach you: the touch of a god, it seems, enabled you to help us. (Prologue.37)Creon, Oedipus' brother-in-law, is sent to the oracle to discover the reason for the plague. Upon returning, Creon reports that the murder of the former king of Thebes, Laios, is...... middle of paper ......ity for his actions and pays for them regardless of whether he can or less “control or understand” the forces that govern his life” (Milch 37). Therefore, regardless of the tribulations that may occur, remaining humble and open to learning from mistakes can serve to bring true happiness, prosperity, and value in life. Works Cited Black, John. Oedipus the King. January 25, 1999.Carter, Jason. Moral blindness in Oedipus the King. May 9, 1998. Milch, Robert J. Cliffs Notes on Oedipus Rex. Lincoln, Nebraska, 1965. “Oedipus.” Princeton University, January 15, 1999. Sophocles. “Oedipus Rex”. Respond to literature. California: Mayfield Publishing Company, 1996. 423-465.