Oedipus Rex Analysis

The play, Oedipus Rex, expresses the two themes of fate and persistence throughout the plot. The play was written by Sophocles in the Greek era. Oedipus Rex is included in what is known as the Oedipus collection of plays. These plays were performed in Greek theaters around 420 BC and beyond. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_the_King). Throughout the story, fate and the choices that Oedipus makes allows him to change into a new person by the end of the story. The themes of fate and persistence play a large role in the outcome of the play.
Sophocles was born around 497 BC and died around 406 BC. He played a large role in the development of Greek culture and theater. He along with the two other most famous tragedy playwrights, Euripides and Aeschylus, are still known today as the greatest of all time. Sophocles was said to be born in a town not far from Athens known as Colonus. In his early years, Sophocles wrote music and would often perform solos at contests. Sophocles was married two time in his life and had two sons by the names of Lophon and Agathon. When Oedipus Rex premiered in Greek theaters, many people enjoyed the play. Aristotle even praised the play by explaining that the imagery and plot were merged very smoothly into one. Sophocles is also credited for writing Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus along with many other famous plays. (http://www.egs.edu/library/sophocles/biography/).  While Oedipus was the King of Thebes, plague struck the entire city. The people in the town demanded answers from Oedipus about the plague. From here he sends his brother Creon to the oracle to see how the plague can be fixed. Creon eventually returns to the city and says that the plague will finally end when the person who murdered Laius ...

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...me. At the intersection, Oedipus begins to make the myth true. This is where he kills his father. He then sleeps with his mother not much longer after. This symbolizes the fact that myths and prophecies surround Oedipus’s life and that he does not get to make his own choices. The second theme, Oedipus’s swollen ankles is less mentioned in the story. When Oedipus’s father, Laius, leaves him by the mountain, he tied his ankles together with pins. This left a very noticeable scar on each of his feet. This symbol symbolizes the fact that fate, myths, and pain will be marked on him forever.
One theme that was majorly noticed in the story is fate. Fate is believed to be predetermined and not controllable in the Greek world. Someone’s choices were already made along with their overall track of life. Fate eventually leads to Oedipus crumbing down at the end of the play.