Oedipus Rex

A detailed Summary of Oedipus Rex

Oedipus the King is an example of Sophocles' belief that fate controls a mans life despite his capability of free will. Tragedy can be described in many different ways.

"A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin of suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances."

A professor of literature stated that tragedy has nothing to do with choice. He also went on saying that, "Tragedy occurs when you cannot choose." After reading over this lecture, it was apparent to me that the lecture in part applies to the story of Oedipus Rex.

In hopes of finding the cure for the plague that has stricken the people of Thebes, Oedipus learns that he needs to find the killer of King Laios in order for the plague to diminish. He then vows to find the killer, serve justice and stop the plague.

"Apollo said through his prophet that I was the man who should marry his own mother. Shed his father's blood with his own hands........... (114)

This oracle kept Oedipus out of Corinth where his parents lived. Because the Greeks believed in oracles and prophecies, this oracle was taken vary seriously. Knowing this, Oedipus Rex

"Now you remember the story; Laios was killed by marauding strangers where three highways meet; but his child had not been three days in this world. Before the king had pierced the baby's ankles and left him to die on a lonely mountain side. (104)

Iokaste then chooses to take her own life from the reality of this prophecy. Oedipus then took pins and chose to blind himself, driving the points again and again into his eyes. Oedipus believes that for so long he has been metaphorically blind but now he chose to be physically blind. Oedipus shares that he blinded himself because that is one outcome in his life that was not prophesies by the Gods. He can not bear to look at those he affected including his children and the life he led. His reaction mixes grief and shame with the diminished pride. It was an act of defiance against the Gods.

I Oedipus damned in his birth, in his marriage damned

The only real tragedy of this play was that he did not know that it was his father that he murdered and his mother he married. It was his choice to murder the man at the road crossing. That was not tragic. It was his decision to marry Iokaste. If he would have known that she was his mother, he would not have chosen to marry her. Oedipus then chose to punish himself and blind his world by gouging his eyes. According to the lecture, because Oedipus had the choice not to gouge his eyes therefore it is not considered tragic. I think

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Approximate Word count = 969
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English