The tragic play, Oedipus the King, opens with blight on the kingdom of Thebes.  The now King, Oedipus Rex, along with a priest, Creon, and chorus of people are attempting to figure out the cause of the blight affecting everything from crops to famine.  Oedipus plays the main role in the performance, so naturally he is the focus of the narrative.

Recognizing the ‘agon’ of the play, Oedipus the King, is quite simple.  There are several scenes within the play that identify the main conflict or ‘agon’.  Before describing scenes that constitute the conflict, the conflict itself must be declared.  The conflict in the play lies between Oedipus and himself.  Fairly early into the play, he is told that he is the cause of the blight on the kingdom and that he is the murderer of the late king Laius.  Oedipus must then investigate to clear his name.  As the play progresses and Oedipus learns more about his past, the charges become more and more apparent and true.

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