Was Sophocles criticized for his portrayal of gods?
Some might question the seemingly harsh pronouncements of the gods in my plays. They see only the suffering and the inescapable doom, and perhaps do not grasp the full scope of divine justice. The gods are just, though their ways are mysterious. My intent is to show how human pride and ignorance often blind individuals to the will of the gods. When mortals believe they can outwit destiny or defy divine decrees, they invite disaster. The suffering that results is not arbitrary cruelty, but a consequence of these clashes, a profound lesson etched in the human heart.