--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The two greatest plays ever written were…" description: "\"The two greatest plays ever written were Hamlet and Oedipus Rex, and they're both about father-son relationships.\" — Arthur Miller" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/087/arthur-miller-947_father_the-two-greatest-plays-ever-written-were_59094.jpg" --- # The two greatest plays ever written were Hamlet and… ![“The two greatest plays ever written were Hamlet and Oedipus Rex, and they're both about father-son relationships.” quote by Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/087/arthur-miller-947_father_the-two-greatest-plays-ever-written-were_59094.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/087/arthur-miller-947_father_the-two-greatest-plays-ever-written-were_59094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/087/arthur-miller-947_father_the-two-greatest-plays-ever-written-were_59094.jpg) > “The two greatest plays ever written were Hamlet and Oedipus Rex, and they're both about father-son relationships.” [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights how classic tragedies use father‑son dynamics to explore power, destiny, and identity. **In simple terms:** Father‑son conflict drives tragedy Key Takeaway Family ties shape fate Themes family power identity destiny conflict Mood reflective melancholic introspective Type analytical interpretive critical When to use this quote - literary analysis - psychology of families - theatrical criticism - comparative literature - counseling Key Concepts tragic structure mythic archetype psychological tension Practical Applications - teaching drama - designing therapy narratives Questions to Reflect On - How does parental authority influence personal destiny? - What universal truths emerge from father‑son conflict? A Different Perspective Other scholars argue that the plays also address broader political and existential themes beyond familial bonds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamlet/) [Oedipus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oedipus/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) ## Related quotes > [“Publishing makes Oedipus Rex look like a play about distant cousins.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-farrel-coleman/publishing-makes-oedipus-rex-look-like-a-play-about-distant-cousins/) [Reed Farrel Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-farrel-coleman/) > [Plato did claim that the unexamined life was not worth living. Oedipus Rex was not so sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/plato-did-claim-that-the-unexamined-life-was-not-worth-living-oedipus/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Lord Bacon could as easily have created the planets as he could have written Hamlet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/lord-bacon-could-as-easily-have-created-the-planets-as-he-could-have/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [There have been more books alone written about Hamlet than have been written about the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rylance/there-have-been-more-books-alone-written-about-hamlet-than-have-been/) [Mark Rylance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rylance/) > [“The sense of tragedy - according to Aristotle - comes, ironically enough, not from the protagonist's weak points but from his good qualities. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-sense-of-tragedy-according-to-aristotle-comes-ironically-enough-2/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“I don’t know how to cure the source-itis except to tell you that I can discover a good many possible sources myself for Wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/i-don-t-know-how-to-cure-the-source-itis-except-to-tell-you-that-i/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [“Listen, Kafka. What you’re experiencing now is the motif of many Greek tragedies. Man doesn’t choose fate. Fate chooses man. 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Nevins Jr > [ “And the darkness of John's sin was like the darkness of the church on Saturday evenings\[...\] It was like his thoughts as he moved… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-baldwin/and-the-darkness-of-john-s-sin-was-like-the-darkness-of-the-church-on/) [James Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-baldwin/) > [I think there comes a point in probably most father-son relationships where the son kind of starts becoming the parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-arnaud/i-think-there-comes-a-point-in-probably-most-father-son-relationships/) [Francois Arnaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-arnaud/) > [You don't buy into huge car chases or sensates or interstellar warfare, but you can buy into a loving relationship or a father-son relationship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-michael-straczynski/you-don-t-buy-into-huge-car-chases-or-sensates-or-interstellar/) [J. Michael Straczynski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-michael-straczynski/) > [Before I began The Cider House Rules, I thought I wanted to write about a father-son relationship that was closer, more conflicted, and ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/before-i-began-the-cider-house-rules-i-thought-i-wanted-to-write/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [“...it’s my job to lead you to success, and, if you fail, it’s because I failed, not you.’” (Spoken by Bracke, told by Eric)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/it-s-my-job-to-lead-you-to-success-and-if-you-fail-it-s-because-i/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [“How can I say I'm like my father when we have never met? Not to mention he have never been there for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-bostwick/how-can-i-say-i-m-like-my-father-when-we-have-never-met-not-to/) Wilfred Bostwick > [In a personal way, to do with family and the father-son relationship, in a kind of artistic way with regard to him being an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/in-a-personal-way-to-do-with-family-and-the-father-son-relationship/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) ## More by Arthur Miller > [If a person measures his spiritual fulfillment in terms of cosmic visions, surpassing peace of mind, or ecstasy, then he is not likely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/if-a-person-measures-his-spiritual-fulfillment-in-terms-of-cosmic/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“If you can fall in love again and again, if you can forgive your parents for the crime of bringing you into the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/if-you-can-fall-in-love-again-and-again-if-you-can-forgive-your/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [The wedding of Christianity or Judaism with nationalism is lethal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-wedding-of-christianity-or-judaism-with-nationalism-is-lethal/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“I know what's wrong with me - I could never stand still for death! 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I never saw you as a man. I saw you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-know-you-re-no-worse-than-most-men-but-i-thought-you-were-better-i/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [The best of our theater is standing on tiptoe, striving to see over the shoulders of father and mother. The worst is exploiting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/the-best-of-our-theater-is-standing-on-tiptoe-striving-to-see-over/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“I only ask you one thing- don't trust nobody”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/i-only-ask-you-one-thing-don-t-trust-nobody/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“Pray calm yourselves. I have eleven children, and I am twenty-six times a grandma, and I have seen them all through their silly seasons,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/pray-calm-yourselves-i-have-eleven-children-and-i-am-twenty-six-times/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) [Explore all 322 Arthur Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) ## More Father quotes > [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. 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The music that I played was loud; it used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/my-parents-were-not-musical-and-they-were-not-effervescent-people/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [“My father called twice and left a voicemail—who does that?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-erickson/my-father-called-twice-and-left-a-voicemail-who-does-that/) [Megan Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-erickson/) > [My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-melua/my-father-longed-for-a-better-life-for-us-and-when-i-was-nine-he-got/) [Katie Melua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-melua/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [“I don’t know. We all have to bear things, Ari. All of us. Your father has to bear the war and what it did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-we-all-have-to-bear-things-ari-all-of-us-your-father-has/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“This was, I sometimes thought, the last gift my father gave me. And the best: His death stood out as the supreme-o excuse for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-stahl/this-was-i-sometimes-thought-the-last-gift-my-father-gave-me-and-the/) [Jerry Stahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-stahl/) > [My father was very encouraging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-nutini/my-father-was-very-encouraging/) [Paolo Nutini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-nutini/) > [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. 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