While other playwrights of the Athenian Golden Age explored this theme, Sophocles is particularly known for his tragic heroes who face immense challenges and often come into conflict with divine forces.
Here are some examples:
* Oedipus Rex: The play's protagonist, Oedipus, is destined to kill his father and marry his mother, fulfilling a prophecy that he desperately tries to avoid. This struggle against fate, ultimately determined by the gods, lies at the heart of the tragedy.
* Antigone: Antigone defies the king's law in order to bury her brother, even though the gods have declared him an enemy of the state. This conflict between human law and divine justice, between loyalty to family and loyalty to the state, is central to the play.
* Ajax: The tragic hero Ajax is driven to madness after being humiliated in battle. This tragedy explores the themes of pride, revenge, and the destructive consequences of defying the gods.
Sophocles' plays often depicted the human struggle against fate and divine will, exploring the complexities of morality, justice, and the nature of human suffering.