This play was written at the very end of Sophocles's life and was a sort of throwback to some of his most famous characters.

It takes place at the end of the life of Oedipus the King who is still a wonderer; he never did return to Thebes. He aims to fulfill a prophecy about his burial at a shrine in the vicinity of Athens. The prophecy predicts that the city he is buried near will be blessed and protected. His daughters Antigone and Ismene are with him throughout the play and help him navigate as he is blind.

In order to enter the shrine, Oedipus needs to consult with the Athenian leadership. He requests Theseus, the King of Athens to come see to the matter. Theseus respects Oedipus and knows his story and gives him the right to die and be buried in the shrine as the prophecy predicted. There is some drama in between, like Creon (Regent of Thebes) and Polyneices (son of Oedipus) visiting beckoning him back to Thebes, but Oedipus refuses as he is angry with them for not bringing him back to the city earlier. They only do so now because of the prophecy.

In the end Oedipus dies at the shrine. It's a sort of beautiful and fitting play for Sophocles to go out on. The familiar themes of fate, human pride, death and legacy are all present but in a decidedly softer toned play than some of the predecessors.