Oedipus at Colonus · Character

Theseus

Athens's king, whose famed hospitality meets its hardest test when a cursed exile asks for protection and a grave.

supporting

Also known as Stranger Theseus, Stranger

As a supporting figure in Oedipus at Colonus, Theseus is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

King of Athens, protector of Oedipus.

In the storyDramatis PersonaeOpen this moment free

See Theseus in Dramatis Personae Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Theseus rules a city that prides itself on welcoming strangers, and Oedipus arrives to put that reputation on the line. He listens, weighs the oracle's promise of blessing against the horror of Oedipus's name, and chooses to honor his word. His decisiveness — he acts at once against Creon's abduction — makes him the moral counterweight to Thebes, and his willingness to keep Oedipus's final secret marks him as the one man trusted with what the gods took.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Theseus sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Theseus in oedipus at colonus

Character Web

8 connections

A slice of how Theseus sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Immediate Theban Conflict
Protagonist
Offstage Theban Legacy

+3 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Breaking point

The emotional and psychological peak occurs when Oedipus, once a figure of shame and blindness, is revealed as…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

Relationships

Oedipus
friendship · positive
Theseus becomes Oedipus's trusted ally and protector, offering him sanctuary and respect… How this plays out →
Antigone
friendship · positive
Creon
rivalry · negative
Antigone
friendship · positive

Oedipus
Theseus becomes Oedipus's trusted ally and protector, offering him sanctuary and respect in Athens.
Antigone
Antigone and Theseus share mutual respect and cooperation, with Theseus aiding her in protecting Oedipus.
Creon
Creon and Theseus clash as Creon tries to abduct Oedipus's daughters, leading to Theseus's intervention.
Antigone
Antigone and Theseus share mutual respect and cooperation, with Theseus aiding her in protecting Oedipus.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Theseus in oedipus at colonus

In the story

Theseus appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Dramatis Personae

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Theseus unlock in the free preview.

See Theseus in oedipus at colonus

See Theseus in Dramatis Personae