Polybus And Merope In Oedipus's Journey

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As the play progresses, Oedipus begins to slowly piece together the details of his birth rite. He informs Jocasta of his past and relays that he was once a prince in his hometown of Corinth. The king and queen of Corinth and Oedipus’ adoptive parents are Polybus and Merope. Oedipus tells how he heard of this adoption from the town drunk and curiously went to an oracle to confirm this. Yet, the oracle informs him other things. The prophecy is revealed to Oedipus and he tells that in an attempt to prevent this from happening he, “fled an exile. As I journeyed on I found myself upon the same spot, where you say, the king perished.” This quote originates from a part of the play that gives sufficient detail about this king’s life before Thebes.

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