Oedipus
The tragedy of Sophocles's Oedipus the King is problematic because Sophocles did not provide a clear way to judge the actions of Oedipus. Sophocles in the play presented a conventional truth in which Oedipus like a detective sought out Laius' murderer. Within the play also exists another truth that is different from conventional truth. Conventional truth is obtained by collection and analysis of evidence, usually by someone who did not commit the crime. Conventional truth attempts to piece together the sequence of events. The other truth presented in the play is the truth that is possessed only by the criminal. Only the criminal would know the full details of the crime and why the crime was committed rather than avoided. Oedipus is the criminal that possesses the unique truth about his crimes because he did not attempt to avoid his own fate. Initially, it was logically inferred that Oedipus is an innocent man, who has suffered the cruelty of the Greek god Apollo. The innocence of Oedipus would be uncontested if there was no evidence that would suggest that Oedipus did not really attempt to avoid his own fate. Oedipus could have avoided his own fate by not leaving Corinth. Oedipus was told that he was not the son of
Therefore, Oedipus should have known that is was not safe to marry an older woman. By marrying an older woman and killing an older man it should have been plainly obvious to Oedipus that he was carrying out his fate, even if at that point he did not know whom his true parents were. Instead he behaves as if he is blind to his own actions. 917). He was told by the oracle that he was fated to kill his father and marry his mother ( lines 923-926). It would make sense that Oedipus, to avoid his fate, leave Corinth immediately. However, Oedipus completely doubted his relation to Polybos in the first place that is why he visited the oracle. Oedipus wanted the oracle to tell him who his true father was because he did not believe Polybos. Since he did not believe Polybos to be his true father than he would not be convinced that his fate would come true. Therefore, Oedipus should have remained in Corinth. King Polybos of Corinth even though he had known Polybos as his father all his life ( lines 908-909). Oedipus had to have believed that Polybos was not his true father otherwise he would not have approached Polybos and questioned his true lineage (lines 911-914). He also would never have left Corinth to seek the truth from the Pythian oracle (line First Oedipus his told that Polybos is not his father, then he his told that he will marry his mother and kill his father. Oedipus would then be told that Thebes is connected to his birth, and he would kill an old man on the road to Thebes. Then Oedipus would reach Thebes and be told of Laius deat
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1053
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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