Theme Of Knowledge In Oedipus

Destructive Knowledge Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex deals with the insatiable human need knowledge, most importantly the need for self-knowledge. In this case, the knowledge Oedipus craves will unknowingly and ultimately destroy him. He is so invested in figuring out why Thebes has fallen ill, who killed Laius, and where he comes from that he goes against the counseling of his wife, Creon, the servants, and the people of Thebes. At the beginning of the play, Oedipus 's only concern is why there is a sudden plague in the city of Thebes. The priest begs of Oedipus to save the city. Oedipus sends Creon to Delphi, the temple of Apollo. There, the truth will be revealed to Creon as to why the city has fallen ill. When Creon arrives, he reiterates

It is a deathly thing, beyond cure; we must not let it feed upon us longer.” Dumbfounded by this statement, Oedipus questions what defilement could possibly be in his beloved kingdom. When Creon explains that the the murderer of King Laius still lives in the city, Oedipus decrees that he will do everything he can to find the murderer and bring him to justice. Oedipus does not realize that he has begun a hunt for himself, for he unknowingly killed King Laius. Afterwards, Oedipus has several witnesses come forth to try and put together the mystery that is Laius’ death. He first brings forth Teiresias, a blind clairvoyant, in hopes that he can reveal the truth. When Teiresias refuses to reveal the truth even after Oedipus 's threatening and pleading, Teiresias answers by saying, “You are all ignorant. No; I will never tell you what I know. Now it is my misery; then, it would be yours.” Oedipus refuses to leave Teiresias alone, for he knows that Teiresias has the knowledge that Oedipus lacks. After Oedipus continues to pester and degrade Teiresias, the seer tells him the truth. Teiresias plainly states, “ I say that you are the murderer whom you seek.” Shocked at the

He learns that the messenger gave Oedipus to Polybus and Merope of Corinth. He also learns that a shepherd rescued him from a mountain where he had his ankles pinned together. When Jocasta hears of this, she realizes that her husband is actually her son and that the oracle’s prophecy had come true. Disgusted with herself, she begs Oedipus to stop searching for the truth because she knows of the horror it will reveal. Oedipus refuses to listen to Jocasta for he feels she is afraid he is not of rich ancestry. Jocasta leaves, distraught and appalled by herself and her incestuous relationship with her son. The shepherd who had found Oedipus upon the mountain arrives and reveals the scandalous truth to Oedipus, that he indeed is the son of the Late King Laius and Queen Jocasta, that he indeed killed his father, and indeed married his mother and had children with her. Oedipus is immediately filled with self-loathing saying “Oedipus, damned in his birth, in his marriage damned, damned in the blood he shed with his own hand!” Oedipus finds that Jocasta has killed herself, for she could not deal with the knowledge that she married her son and had his incestuous children. He gouges out his own eyes for he cannot bear to deal with the horrors of his