Are the Gods All-Knowing and All-Powerful?
Sophocles’ devotion to his religion is reflected in the plays Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone, and enlightens us as readers or observers to the meaning of his plays. Sophocles wants his readers to see that man has a responsibility for his own moral actions and his own judgement and reasoning. Sophocles at the same time recognizes that to fulfill these responsibilities a man must have faithfulness in the gods. In Sophocles’ plays Oedipus Rex and Antigone, he shows that the gods should be worshipped and obeyed because they are all-powerful, they are all-knowing, and they are not subject to human notions of fairness. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone, Sophocles uses the actions of the main characters and the storyline to show these beliefs.
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The importance of these laws is clear in his play because the entire plot is the result of a prophecy made by the Oracle at Delphi. Sophocles’ play shows that Oedipus has faith in the oracle and wants his guidance in how to end the pestilence in Thebes. Oedipus sends Creon his brother- in- law, to find out from the Oracle how to save Thebes. Creon states in part, “This is what the god has said / The Prince Apollo…” (Roche, P. 1991. p. 8), thus showing how powerful the gods responses were. Sophocles shows that their obligation to the gods is necessary and guidance from them should be sought before any human actions are taken. Sophocles also shows by the fact that the innocent are not always protected, and the non-guilty may suffer, that it is the will of the gods what happens and that humans are not subject to the human views of