Oedipus Rex

With its popularity equivalent to the modern day version of the tale of Snow White, the title character of the Greek tragedy of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King can turn iron-fists into timorous wimps. As an honorable king and a miracle worker, the positive attributes of Oedipus would have been worthy of taking into account had he not committed one of the greatest sins of human life – and yes, this was even worse than a verbal sin. Portrayed as the protagonist and villain, Oedipus’ situation was destined by the supreme will of the gods and any attempt to escape the evil that the gods intimidate him with would eventually fail, because his hubris towards his power and position would instigate more castigation from the gods.

Although he was unaware of what was to come, Oedipus does make an attempt in escaping from a part of his destiny that would eventually occur. He is allegedly the son of Queen Merope and King Polybus of Corinth, until a man tells him that he is not his father’s son. Curiosity creeps into Oedipus’ mind, so one day he sets out for Delphi. He receives an oracle from Apollo which says that he would “couple with [his] mother” (873) and “kill [his] father” (875). Disgusted and humiliated, Oedipus abandons Corinth – “running toward some place where [he] would never see the shame of those oracles come true” (878-880). Reaching a crossroad, Oedipus kills Laius, the king of Thebes; later on in the play, he tells his wife Jocasta: “And you, his wife, I’ve touched your body with these, the hands that killed your husband cover you with blood” (908-909). “Apollo told me once – it is my fate – I must make love with my own mother, shed my father’s blood with my own hands. So for years I have given Corinth a wide berth, and it ha...

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...ously, Oedipus, having no experience and scholarly knowledge whatsoever, was the only person in that city who had the ability to solve the Sphinx’s riddle. It is certainly true when Oedipus asks, “But why, why? Wouldn’t a man of judgment say – and wouldn’t he be right – some savage power has brought this down upon my head” (917-918)?

Oedipus’ life was not a question of accident and luck. At the time when the noble and most honorable men were looked upon as the wisest, fate can assay them to see if they actually possess a true cognition. Escaping from the challenge would be impossible, until the person goes through the whole ride. It all comes down to showing strength through one’s actions rather than through words. Oedipus, however, seems to have failed the test due to his curiosity of learning more about his true identity and being ignorant of his parameters.