Oedipus

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In Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, a plague has spread throughout the city of Thebes causing widespread death. Oedipus, the king, sends Creon to the prophet at Delphi to find an answer to the plague and save the people. In order to stop the plague, the prophet says that Oedipus must determine the killer of Laius, the previous king, and banish him from the land. Oedipus is determined to discover the truth, and his path towards the truth results in him questioning several individuals. His determination to solve the plague leads to his eventual discovery of the truth and his downfall. As the mystery surrounding begins to unravel, Oedipus begins to learn about the truth surrounding his birth before discovering the killer of Laius. Throughout the play, Oedipus’s personality propels him toward solving the mystery and discovering the truth. His path towards the truth suggests the dominance of fate in controlling the outcome of his life. Oedipus’s ego masks his ability to reason logically and see the obvious. Creon invites Tiresias, the blind prophet, to come and provide guidance on the identity of the murderer. Oedipus tries to obtain information regarding the killing of Laius from Tiresias; however, when Tiresias refuses to inform Oedipus about the truth, Oedipus says,“Creon, the soul of trust, my loyal friend from the start steals against me… so hungry to overthrow me he sets this wizard on me…seer blind in his craft” [438-442], which reveals his large ego. He thinks that Tiresias has been lying to him, and hence, he believes that Creon, his “loyal friend”, sent Tiresias to try to overtake his position and gain power because Oedipus’s quick leap to the conclusion without conclusive evidence from either Tiresias or Creon further refl... ... middle of paper ... ...rcumstances and reveals the power of fate in dictating the outcome. In addition, the prophecy to save the city from the plague prompts Oedipus to search for the truth in an effort to stop the plague. The search for Laius’s killer results in Oedipus’s discovery of both the killer and also his parents. Hence, fate is responsible for Oedipus’s uncovering of the truth. Throughout the play, Oedipus exercises his free will on several occasions. In order to help save the people of Thebes, he chooses to persist with the investigation of the Laius’s; however, the end result of his investigation was determined by the gods through the prophecy. Oedipus’s actions have no influence on the outcome of the events in his life, which are dictated by the gods and fate. Through the prophecies and Oedipus’s actions, Sophocles reveals the dominance of fate in the lives of individuals.

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