Many great thinkers, philosophers, artists and scientists have made a single work of Greek tragedy a centerpiece or pillar of their theories. Oedipus Rex is the center of a trilogy of plays written by Sophocles, which includes Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone. The Oedipus Rex surpassed these other works for a number of reasons, most likely because of the three it provides the clearest example of classical tragedy. In this article we will first describe the work itself. We will next examine the piece in relation to performance work, which will involve a brief look at the conventions of theater in ancient Greece. We will then examine the philosophical examinations of the work through the eyes of Plato and Aristotle. Finally, we will bring the piece into a modern context and show how it ultimately influenced Freud in his work trying to understand the human mind. To understand Oedipus Rex, we must understand the story itself. The story of Oedipus really begins with his father Laius. When Laius is young he is asked to teach a king's son to drive a chariot. Laius breaks the rules of hospitality and kidnaps and rapes the young prince, who then kills himself out of shame. Much later, Laius becomes king of Thebes with his wife Jocasta. Laius receives a prophecy from an oracle that he will be killed by his son. In view of this, Laius ties the child's feet and orders his wife to kill him. He cannot do it himself and so orders a servant to do it. The servant is reluctant to kill the child, but takes him to the mountains and abandons him to freeze to death. A passing shepherd finds the child with his feet tied and takes him in. Name the child Oedipus, which means “Swollen Feet.” When the child is... at the center of the card... because it offers us glimpses into the heart of the ancient world, as well as a unique story that helped define and give birth to modern Western society. Sources: Goldhill, Simon (1987). "The Great Dionysia and Civic Ideology". Journal of Hellenistic Studies 107 (1): p. 58.Thomas, J.E., & Osborne, E. (2004). Oedipus Rex: Touchstone Literary Edition. Prestwick House Inc. pg. 69. Plato, The Republic, Book X. "catharsis", Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature, Merriam-Webster, 1995, p. 217.Charles Rycroft A Critical Dictionary of Psychoanalysis (London, 2nd ed. 1995) p.52.Sigmund Freud, 'Civilization and Its Discontents' (1930) in the standard edition of the complete psychological works of Sigmund Freud – The Future of an Illusion, civilization and its discontents and other works, trans. by James Strachey (Hogarth Press; London, 1961), vol. XXI, 79–80 pages. 33.