Sophocles's Oedipus the King is a classic Greek tragic play. There are many themes in this play. They cover almost everything from fate and destiny to betrayal and incest. The main theme of the play is, as it is in most Greek literary works, that one cannot escape one's fate. It is usually the method by which you try to escape that leads you directly to it.

The being of the play depicts a scene of somber and restless citizens waiting for the king to find a way to rid their fine city of plague, famine, and death. Oedipus listens to his "children" speak and does feel for them. He has already sent Creon to Apollo to plead for help from the gods. Creon arrives almost simultaneously as Oedipus states this. Creon arrives with news that "the gods command them to expel from the land of Thebes an old defilement they are sheltering. It is a deathly thing, beyond cure. They must not let it feed upon them longer"(1258). This defilement is referring to when Thebes's former king was murdered, they must find the murderer and kill him at once. Oedipus declares this person or these people to be found and executed at once. However, first they must find the killer. The crime happened so long a

s not your father"(1281). He goes on to tell Oedipus that he found Oedipus at the crooked pass of Kithairon. He was bonded together at his ankles; he was Oedipus's savoir that day. Since Polybos could not have children of his own, the messenger gave Oedipus to him as a gift. Oedipus asks him who wished for him to die, his mother or father. The messenger tells him that the herdsman that gave Oedipus to him would know better. He was known to be one of King Laios's men. This man turns out to be the same man that Oedipus has summoned already. The dramatic irony is that we know that the prophecy has come true. Oedipus being his arrogant self must know the truth about his true parents. He finds out that he has that the prophecy from Delphi has came true.

killed. A chariot drawn by horses came towards him in turn forcing Oedipus off the road. In his rage Oedipus lashed out and killed everyone there. All of these events happened right about the same time. Oedipus realizes that he might be the murderer after all. The story lies in the recollection of the only living witness, who wished to go to the frontier land, where only shepherds go, after King Laios was murdered. While waiting for the shepherd a messenger from Corinth comes to Thebes in search of Oedipus. He bears news that Polybos, Oedipus's father, has passed away. For a moment, Oedipus gives a sigh of relief and speaks in arrogance towards the shrine at Delphi, going on and on about how he did not touch his father and his is dead and buried. He is still in

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Approximate Word count = 1034
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)