An ironic point in this explanation is the fact that Oedipus was meant to die on the mounts of Cithaeron. Because Cithaeron is a mountain, had Oedipus died as an infant, he would have died high born both figuratively and literally. Finally, Oedipus is a beloved king. Oedipus calls out to his people saying, “Oh my children” (1). When Oedipus proclaims to his people this way he resembles a compassionate and caring leader.
This statement brings into question the influence of supernatural forces within Oedipus’ life. Enquiring more on this, it is found that, Oedipus’s fate stems from an earlier curse lay upon his father Laius. Indeed, in his youthful ages, Laius tutored Chryssipus, the king’s youngest son in chariot racing. One day, he raped Chryssipus, who later put an end to his life because of such an embarrassment. This casted a doom over Laius’s progeny in which he was accursed to be killed by his own son, who will later on get married to his wife (Sigmapublications.com).
Oedipus has a fallout with Creon; a minor bout resulting from an argument with Teiresias, the blind prophet, but this pales in comparison to later repercussions. Unable to cope with the reality Oedipus had bestowed upon her, Jocasta hanged herself causing Oedipus much grief. Prior to, Teiresias stated, “[Oedipus,] you are living in unguessed shame” (135). He prophesied the shame Oedipus would subdue to. And at its climax, the chorus, representing his Theban people, disavowed King Oedipus and his contributions to Thebes saying it would have been better without him.
Oedipus was given the responsibility of killing King Laius’s murderer. He was so confident and sure he would find the killer. But that is where irony fell in place because the whole time Oedipus didn 't know that he was Laius’s murderer. A tragedy is a serious drama featuring a noble, dignified main character who strives to achieve something but ends up being defeated. Often the main character downfall is brought by his or her own flaw.
And soon their double curse-your father's and your mother's- will lash you out of Thebes on terror-stricken feet. With these lines, Oedipus starts to question his life and history inside but does not reflects it to the people. In fact, he is shocked because of that situation but he can't run away from the truth. So he starts to look for explanation but can't deal with it. The tragedy of Oedipus is really questionable because the reality in Oedipus's soul is unknown but it is clear that he is surprised by life because of the fact that he was not the man that he thinks.
As he came closer to the truth he finds himself praying that the prophecy will not come true. His earnestness causes a panic within him that leads him to abuse his power into changing his destiny. But as a result, all thing must come to an end especially Oedipus’s physical sight. Oedipus learns that you can’t control everything in life and also things come and go, they never stay. So instead seeing the truth and believing the lies, it’s best to see the lies and believe in the truth.
After his accusations, Oedipus mocked Teiresias for his blindness, and told him to leave the palace as Oedipus had grown tired of him. Oedipus’s imperfect nature stopped him from learning the truth from Teiresias before it was too late, and lead to great loss at the end of the play. Throughout the story of Oedipus the King, the imperfectly noble nature of Oedipus is displayed for all to learn from. His temperamental and overzealous nature made him argumentative and combative when Teiresias tried to tell him the truth about the murder, causing Oedipus to accuse his good friend Creon of being a usurper. The consequence of Oedipus’s imperfect noble nature was his eventual blindness and exile from the place he loved and cared for the
These flaws led Oedipus to be seen as a static character. His bad temper led him to kill his biological father, he was on his way to Thebes when he was run off the road. The carriage with King Laius ran Oedipus off the road, he overreacted and brutally murdered King Laius and his men. Oedipus was leaving Corinth, due to an oracle that was given to him by the Greek god Apollo at Delphi. He gets to Thebes and
Oedipus discovered that fate is what brought him his luxury and his downfall. Even when the course of life is altered, fate can never be
The events in Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles, show an underlying relationship of man 's free will existing within the cosmic order or fate which the Greeks believed guided the universe in a harmonious purpose. Man was free to choose and was ultimately held responsible for his own actions. Both the concept of fate and free will played an it regal part in Oedipus ' destruction. Although he was a victim of fate, he was not controlled by it. Oedipus was destined from birth to someday marry his mother and to murder his father.