The poets wrote the plays, composed accompanying music, directed the production, supervised rehearsals, and in earlier times acted the role of the protagonist. The choregus, who paid the cost of the production, was a wealthy citizen appointed by the government to do this public service. In turn the choregus shared the praise and the awards won by the poet. Tickets were originally free since attendance was seen as a civic and religious obligation as well as entertainment. Eventually there was a charge for the tickets; however, the state provided funds for citizens who could not afford the price.

Tragedy developed from ancient dithyramb or choral lyric, which was sung by the male chorus in honor of t

For the moment Oedipus is saved by his pride. Curiosity about his birth has been a primary motive in his life. It caused him to leave Corinth; it made him for an instant forget his wrath at Teiresias (l.437), and now in his turmoil of spirit, it prevents him from recalling Jocasta's story of Laius' child and its exposure on a lonely mountain with his ankles pierced. This episode ends with Oedipus rejecting the ominous warning of Jocasta and expressing his determination to solve the riddle of Laius' death.

The actors, all male, wore elaborate formal costumes and masks that emphasized the dominant traits of the characters they were impersonating. They had to be competent singers because many of their lines were chanted to music. The mode of action was conventional and stylized rather than naturalistic. The acting could not have been too artificial since many scenes called for lively, realistic action, by their standards, if not by ours.

Situated on the side of the orchestra, which formed an open end to the theatron, was a wooden building, the skene, used as a dressing room for actors. Its facade was usually made to resemble a palace or temple, which served as a backdrop for the action of the play. The three doors of the skene were used for entrances and exits.

The play is marked off into six sections by five choral songs, These vary in length from 76 to 350 lines. The opening scene (the prologos, 150) opens in medias res; the small amount of exposition given is wholly incidental. The appeal of the townspeople to Oedipus really begins the play. Complication start with the entrance of Creon and with his report. The characterization of Oedipus is also an important function of this scene. Oedipus shows himself to be just, merciful, successful, religious, a prince, a father to his country.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Oedipus Rex, King Sophocles', Dionysus Athens, Creon Oedipus, March Competition, Sphinx Exhorting, Decalogue Prophecy, Mount Cithaeron, Unlike Jocasta, Creon Jocasta's, murderer laius, messenger corinth, choral song, greek tragedy, laius' death, section play, creon oedipus, gods themselves, oedipus expresses, oedipus thoroughly shaken, greek tragic, favorite device sophocles, son polybus merope,
Approximate Word count = 6003
Approximate Pages = 24 (250 words per page double spaced)