Oedipus (Dryden play) and decorative poetic language, the audience's strong lust for stage action, visual effects, intensive conflicts and complex plots, all changed Greek tragedy in the Restoration era. Oedipus (Dryden play) The heroic drama Oedipus: A Tragedy, is an adaption of Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex", written by John Dryden and Nathaniel Lee. After being licensed in 1678 and published in 1679, it became a huge success on stage during the Restoration period. "Oedipus, a Tragedy" may today have an unintended comic effect, given the bloodthirsty ending of the drama. In past centuries, however, there was a wide range of views, ranging from enthusiasm
Oedipus Rex ability, as seen in "Oedipus at Colonus". It is deliberately ironic that the "seer" can "see" better than Oedipus, despite being blind. In one line (Oedipus the king, 469), Tiresias says: ""So, you mock my blindness? Let me tell you this. You [Oedipus] with your precious eyes, you're blind to the corruption of your life ..."" (Robert Fagles 1984) Sigmund Freud in "Interpretation of Dreams" wrote a notable passage regarding of the destiny of Oedipus as well as the Oedipus complex. He analyzes why this play, "Oedipus Rex", written in Ancient Greece, is so effective even to a modern audience.