Do you have a great understanding of “Oedipus the King”? The understanding

provoked by reading this story is not accidental but intentional. Sophocles

wants the reader to walk away with condemnation and regret. The reader can

not help but to walk away from the book with a better understanding of fate.

The knowledge gained is going to be different for each reader. To

understand the story, an eye examination must take place. A diagnosis of

each character’s function and true self must be performed. Unless, the

reader puts on his or her lenses of interpretation they will suffer from

First, the main character, Oedipus according to the story is the greatest of

men and the solver of riddles. Well, Oedipus can only solve the riddle of

his own origins by revealing a truth too awful to bear. Knowledge is power

but the insight gained from the knowledge is painful. Oedipus is the

perfect example of this philosophy. Oedipus’ strive to see everything

blinded him but even in his blindness he still searched for answers.

Christopher Nassaar writes, “Oedipus is thus the patron saint of

and Sandra Waller. New York: Longman, 1997 1237-1277.

Edmonds, Lowell. “The Sphinx in the Oedipus Legend” 1981 Comparative

week's episode”(187)! Nassaar also writes, “Oedipus is an inspiration for

Oedipus’ eyes Teiresias is just a blind beggar who knows nothing. The truth

Teiresias should be seen as a defensive chess piece in favor of Oedipus. In

fetched. And his blinding was freely chosen, not unchosen. Sophocles needed

Some common words found in the essay are:
Oedipus Rex, Buena Vista, Sphinx Sophocles’, Oedipus Oedipus’, Files Oedipus, King Laius, Road Boeotia”, Oedipus Creon, Lowell Edmund, Oedipus Doer, “oedipus king”, oedipus perfect, pawn…” 57, “on road boeotia”, oedipus perfect example, lenses interpretation, writes “oedipus, perfect example, solve riddle, “oedipus king” understanding, oracle delphi, “jocasta pawn…” 57, reader lenses, nassaar writes “oedipus, “on road,
Approximate Word count = 1436
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)