Oedipus Character Analysis Essay Example

📌Category: Oedipus Rex, Plays, Sophocles, Writers
📌Words: 1098
📌Pages: 4
📌Published: 23 April 2022

Throughout the predetermined life and experiences of Oedipus, he continually cannot grasp control over his actions, changing the way the world perceives him as a prominent ruler. As Oedipus arrives at the center of a crossroad on his way to the great city of Thebes, he encounters a carriage with guards who try to push him off the road. In self-defense, he retaliates against the group and eventually strikes a man with a staff, killing his true father, King Laius. Several years later, the truth surfaces behind Laius’ death, after hearing the account of his wife, Jocasta. The time frame of both their stories does not only match, but confirms how the same outcome is bound to occur no matter the situation. In Oedipus The King, a play composed by Sophocles, Oedipus’ story remains a matter of fate through factors, including the Oracle’s prophecy, his marriage to Jocasta, as well as refusal to return to Corinth.

Moving forward, the Oracle’s prophecy does not only prevent Oedipus from controlling his future set by the gods, but creates no possible opportunity for him to revert to his prior innocence. Before Oedipus’ birth, an Oracle spoke of a prophecy where he will eventually kill his father and marry his mother, horrifying Laius and making him contemplate on a decision to prevent such a future for his family. Laius then wished to abandon his son on a mountainside, leaving him to die, however, the herdsman given the task states “I pitied it, and thought that I could send it off to another country and this man was from another country. But he saved it from the most terrible of troubles. If you are the man he says you are, you are bred to misery.” (Sophocles 512) This sense of sympathy from the herdsman portrays how Oedipus’ survival did not happen by coincidence, resulting in a noble upbringing that still gives a chance to the ongoing prophecy after getting adopted by King Polybus. His foreseeable misery also contributes to the consequence of fate when eventually put in power, therefore, obligated to make crucial decisions later in life. When attempting to discover details about his past, The Blind Prophet, Tiresias, speaks of the initial warning that the Oracle gave Laius. The explanation startles Oedipus, contributing to how “That wise interpreter of prophecies stirs up my fears, unsettling dread. I cannot approve of what he said, and I cannot deny it.” (Sophocles 487) Although Oedipus now knows of the prophecy, it remains unethical for him to immediately accept the claims, given that he does not recognize what to do with the information. Tiresias neither provides evidence to help persuade him into believing what the future holds, leaving any outcomes regarding marriage or death at the will of his fate. The Oracle’s prophecy ultimately shapes Laius’ perspective regarding his son, losing all sense of attachment in hope of saving himself.

An additional instance of fate can be identified during Jocasta’s second marriage, where both lovers become oblivious to their true identities. In a separate attempt to prevent the prophecy, Oedipus wishes to enter Thebes, where he encounters a Sphinx who has plagued the entire city. The creature proposes a riddle and kills any who give an incorrect response, where “For, Zeus, he slaughtered the hook-taloned Sphinx and stilled her cryptic song. For our state, he stood there like a tower against death, and from that moment, Oedipus, we have called you our king and honored you above all other men, he is the one who rules in mighty Thebes.” (Sophocles 517) Once announced King, Oedipus takes Queen Jocasta’s hand in marriage, providing no possibility for him to realize that they share the same blood. Consequently, the current King does not wish to commit an unholy act, only accepting the reward for his valiant effort to save the city, as well as the people. As the play progresses and information revolving around the outcome of the prophecy gets revealed, Jocasta is appalled at the details of her marriage. A second messenger then claims how “So what these two have done has overwhelmed not one alone—this disaster swallows up a man and wife together.” (Sophocles 520) Both Oedipus and Jocasta have to face the consequences of their prohibited relationship, despite not knowing of the situation. Furthermore, his wife also believes that her son with Laius has passed away, proving how all events up to this point of the play are not in personal control. The King and Queen bring unwanted shame to themselves, however, they only act based on their written futures and cannot be blamed.

This form of fate continues into all years of Oedipus’ life, including when he refuses to return to Corinth once aware of his destiny. While unsure of the identity of King Laius’ murderer, various methods of avoiding the prophecy get mentioned to Jocasta, including the lifelong abandonment of her husband’s childhood home. Nonetheless, the information becomes clear when he explains how “When I heard that, I ran away from Corinth. From then on, I thought of it just as a place beneath the stars. I went to other lands, so I would never see that prophecy fulfilled, the abomination of my evil fate.” (Sophocles 497) Even though Oedipus knew that the prophecy would happen, he made every attempt he could to get away from Corinth in hope of preventing the sinful outcome. His marriage to Jocasta and the death of Laius also emphasize how the gods stay in control throughout the entire play, as it remains an odd coincidence that all events occurred despite multiple efforts to prevent them. Later in Oedipus’ rule over Thebes, a messenger enters the royal palace with news that he and Polybus do not share any biological relation. Confusion arises and the King states that “I left my home in Corinth. Things turned out well, but nonetheless, it gives the sweetest joy to look into the eyes of one’s own parents.” (Sophocles 509) This information creates great uncertainty in the mind of the King himself, considering that he sacrifices a loving relationship with his family to bring an end to his foretold future. Furthermore, obstacles continue to cause significant pain, as well as the realization that one can never be in total control over their actions. It clearly remains difficult to accept the words of the messenger, but the truth is essential in determining whether fate exists.

Sophocles portrays how Oedipus is a victim of fate in the play Oedipus The King by depicting the initial prophecy, Jocasta’s second marriage, and abandoning Corinth. From the time Oedipus is born until he becomes King of Thebes, he constantly shows signs of paranoia on whether the Oracle’s prophecy proves to be true. As a result, he does not recognize the relationships made between various individuals and receives no guidance on how to deal with his destiny. These experiences also emphasize how there is no way to prevent one’s predetermined future, seeing how Oedipus abandons his lifelong home and gains nothing in return. Although diverting from one’s destiny may create an illusion of life for a short period of time, there is no escaping fate.

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