The heroic Greek dramas that have moved theatergoers and readers since the fifth century B.C. Towering over the rest of Greek tragedy, the three plays that tell the story of the fated Theban royal family—Antigone, Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus—are among the most enduring and timeless dramas ever written. Robert Fagles's authoritative and acclaimed translation conveys all of Sophocles's lucidity and power: the cut and thrust of his dialogue, his ironic edge, the surge and majesty of his choruses and, above all, the agonies and triumphs of his characters.The Three Theban Plays by Sophocles dive into the doomed Labdacid family of Thebes, where fate, free will, and the gods' whims interweave in tragic masterpieces. Oedipus unknowingly slays his father, marries his mother, and blinds himself upon the horrifying revelation. Years later, his daughter Antigone defies a tyrannical decree to bury her traitorous brother, sparking conflict between personal duty and societal law. Through these unforgettable characters, Sophocles explores enduring themes of human suffering, the burden of family, and the clash between individual conscience and absolute power.