Theme Of Fate In Sophocles 'Oedipus Tyrannus'

Sophocles ' play “Oedipus Tyrannus” is a dramatic murder mystery. His play includes incest, murder and self-enlightenment all leading into the main theme of fate. Athenians believed that fate is not left up to man, but that is provided solely on the whims of the gods. Because of his dramatic approach to his plays Sophocles was considered one of the most brilliant and creative writers of his time.

Sophocles’ play “Oedipus Tyrannus” is about how Athenians view their gods and their fate. Athenians believed that their fate was not left up to man, but that is provided solely on the whims their gods. The interesting aspect of this story is not that one believes that fate is real, but that fate can be changed by not following the predictions

He won first prize for tragic drama at the drama festivals held in the City of Dionysia. Sophocles wrote one hundred and twenty seven plays, winning first place in twenty four festivals and for every play he did not place first he came in second. Only seven plays have survived intact: Ajax, Antigone, Trachiniae, Oedipus the King, Electra, Philoctetes and Oedipus at Colonus. Along with his successful plays he is credited with including painted background scenery, moving from twelve choirmen to fifteen and changing speaking parts from two to three. It is rumored that Sophocles has performed in his own plays, but due to voice issues he could no longer

Oedipus does not realize he is the murderer and takes an oath that he will indeed bring this murderer to justice in order to save the city. The audience already knows who the killer is but the actors have no idea and so the plot thickens. As the play progresses the chorus chimes in with how there is so much death due to the plague. Here is the opportunity to help the audience imagine the severity of the plague on the city. What is to be imagined is that there are dead and rotting bodies everywhere. The plague is not caused by something that can be passed along by incidental contact but by an act of murder. Praying to the gods will do no good because the message is clear, kill the murderer of Laius and the plague will go away. Oedipus offers a reward to anyone that knows about the killing of King Laius. When no one steps forward, he curses them (unknowingly cursing himself). He summons the blind seer Tiresias to help him find who killed Laius but Tiresias refuses to divulge what he knows. After much prodding Tiresias reveals that Oedipus himself is indeed the killer that they are looking for. After debating with Tiresias whether or not he is telling the truth that Oedipus is the murderer or did Creon put Tiresias up to saying that Oedipus killed Laius.