The best character in Oedipus the king - by Thomas Schwarzrock

A classic play by the great Sophocles, Oedipus the King, has stood the test of time. This may be because of the page-turning plot, or the mind-boggling symbolism, but probably not. The main reason this play was so successful, was because of one of its own characters, the herdsman. The herdsman, starting from humble backgrounds, truly makes this play exactly what you want in a play. Not only does he save the life of the main character, Oedipus, but he does so as if it was no big deal. When summoned to Oedipus so many years later, he does not receive a thank you, nor does he expect one, he is that humble. He says all the right things, at all the right times, even being brutally honest at sometimes. One can only expect that the job of a herdsman is physically demanding, thus implying that the herdsman has an 8-pack and 12-inch biceps. Knowing that the Herdsman is physically flawless, we must not forget the mental strength that is required for keeping the flock in line. Knowing how to herd is a complicated and advanced skill, which also implies that the herdsman could rival Einstein and Hawking regarding wit, possibly having an IQ over 160. For all these reasons, the herdsman is by far the most exceptional character in Oedipus the King.

 <-- The herdsman in the play Oedipus the King