The whole debacle started with the birth of Oedipus. Oedipus was the only child of Laius and Jocasta, king and queen of Thebes. They took Oedipus to the oracle at Delphi to have his prophecy read. The oracle prophesized that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. In order to prevent this from happening, Laius and Jocasta pierced Oedipus's foot and ordered a shepherd to abandon him on a mountainside. The shepherd pitied the child and gave him to a herdsman from Corinth. The herdsman then gave the child to Polybus and Merope, the childless king and queen of Corinth. They adopted him and raised him as their own. Oedipus grew up thinking he was the prince of Corinth. He heard rumors that he was not the natural son of Polybus and Merope, so he went to consult the oracle of Delphi to find the truth. The oracle repeated the same p

rophecy that was told to Laius and Jocasta. Thinking that Polybus and Merope were his parents, Oedipus left Corinth. Fate then stepped in and Oedipus met an old man accompanied by several servants at a crossroads. The old man was Laius, on his way to Delphi. Since both men were proud, they refused to step aside so the other could pass. Laius attacked Oedipus, who killed him and all but one of the servants. Not realizing that he had fulfilled half of his terrible prophecy, Oedipus continued on his way to Thebes. Upon arriving at Thebes, Oedipus was confronted by a great Sphinx. After answering the Sphinx's riddle and ridding Thebes of the monster, Oedipus was considered a hero. When the people learned of Laius's death, believed to be the fault of bandits, they made Oedipus their new king. Oedipus eventually had four children: Eteocles, Polynices, Ismene, and Antigone. This fulfilled the other half of his horrible fate. Eventually Oedipus learned of what he had done was consumed by despair. After finding Jocasta hanging from the ceiling, Oedipus shouted that he could no longer bear to see his shame and gouged out his eyes with the brooches on Jocasta's dress. Oedipus was eventually banished from the city of Thebes, and wandered around Greece, unaccepted because of the curse that was thought to be on him.

If not for fate, much of the despair in the lives of Oedipus and his children could have been averted. Oedipus and Laius were both far too stubborn for their own well being, that much is true, but it was fate that brought that bundle of pride together in the first place. Fate is also responsible for Oedipus's glory in death. It just s

Some common words found in the essay are:
Eteocles Polynices, Thebes Oedipus, Colonus Oedipus, Polybus Merope, Antigone Ismene, Oedipus Oedipus's, Eventually Oedipus, Oedipus Creon, Laius Delphi, Laius Jocasta, oedipus met, eteocles polynices, laius jocasta, polybus merope, king theseus, life suffering, ill fated, rest grove, oracle delphi, king queen,
Approximate Word count = 1120
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)