Sophocles' Oedipus Rex

Sophocles' Oedipus Rex As the plot in Sophocles' famous play Oedipus Rex unfolds, many aspects of the relationship between ancient Greeks and their gods are revealed. It demonstrates that the people could call upon the gods in times of distress, how the gods could cause widespread disasters if a population displeased them, how arrogance and ignorance of the gods' powers would lead to disaster, and most importantly, how the gods were believed to control the individual destinies of each and every one of their mortal subjects. It is also important to note that what Sophocles implies about morality applies more within human relationships than it does in a religious context.

In the first scene of the play, it is very apparent that the city of Thebes is experiencing rough times. Oedipus, the city's ruler, leaves his palace and sees the priests and citizens troubled about the plague that has ravaged their community. It is obvious that many of them are appealing to the gods for mercy and help. They are carrying branches that have been covered with wool, a customary gift for the gods. The ancient Greeks believed the gods could be persuaded to assist with a cause through gifts and prayer. They also thought epidemics and disasters to be caused directly by displeased divine forces. One priest says, "A God that carries fire, a deadly pestilence, is on our town, strikes us and spares not." In lines 168 – 215, the chorus describes, in great ...

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... his shame is too much to bear. Society would never accept what he had done. He cut his own eyes to punish himself and asked the new king of Thebes (his brother) to banish him away from society. Sophocles certainly emphasized the weight of the morality of one's actions in determining acceptance within society.

In brief, the lesson that Oedipus Rex teaches is that the will of the gods controls the fate of man completely. The future, as predicted by oracles, cannot be changed by human means. It can only be altered through pleasing the gods and communicating with them. Communication can be achieved through prayer, while pleasing the Gods can be achieved through some sort of gift, offering, or festival, not through morality.

Outside Sources Used:

World History. Spielvogel, Jackson J., and William J. Duiker. 4th ed. Vol. 1.

Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2004. 107.