The story begins with Oedipus' arrival at Thebes as a stranger. He comes to find the town under the curse of a sphinx that will only free the city if her riddle is answered correctly. Oedipus answers the sphinx riddle correctly, freeing the city and because the original emperor was recently murdered, he gains the crown and the empress of Thebes. Years later, Oedipus comes to find out that he is not only a Theban, but also the son of the emperor. He had been ordered to death by the emperor because of a prophecy that he would murder his father and wed his mother. Through an act of kindness his life was spared and when and oracle told Oedipus of the prophecy he left what he thought was his home and parents vowing to never return again. On his way to Thebes he runs into a caravan and after a heated discussion he becomes infuriated and murders the entire caravan. He relates this to the death of the orig

Oedipus remains blind to the truth until he can deny it no longer. After hearing the testimony of the herdsman it is perfectly clear to Oedipus at last that he has fulfilled the prophecy and has caused the great suffering and misfortune of Thebes. Upon discovering this he goes to Jocasta who had overheard what was told and had killed herself. He removes the long gold pins holding her robes and plunges them into his eyes stating that he will see no more pain that he has suffered or caused and that he was blind to everything he wanted to see and that from now on he will see no more.

Sophocles wrote his tragedy Oedipus the King, he based it on the well-known story of Oedipus, which the Greek already knew and loved. Sophocles concentrated on the events directly leading to Oedipus' destruction, portraying Oedipus as a helpless pawn of fate.

Oedipus speaks with his brother-in-law Creon, whom he had sent to inquire of the Oracle at Delphi, returns with a message from the gods. Having allowed the adulation of the people go to his head, he cannot shake the vision of hero-protector and still arrogantly regards himself as the only hope to save the city. At this point, his delusions are masked by his concern for the people; yet they foreshadow the ugly hubris he will manifest plainly when he basically accuses Teiresias and Creon of treachery for revealing the truth later on. Oedipus' self-perception, though delusive, is at the same time accurate-in an ironic way. Seated on the thrown of Thebes

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1012
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)