Story Of Oedipus The King

There was a mountain named Mount Cithaeron. On one side of the mountain was the city Corinth, where King Polybus and Queen Merope, who were unable to have children, lived. One day a citizen came to them with a gift. It was a child who was found on the mountain with stakes in his ankles. They decided to adopt the child and name him Oedipus, which means ‘swollen foot’. Oedipus grows up and his parents never tell him he is adopted. One day he is out drinking with his friends and one tells him he is adopted. He runs to his mom to find the truth, who denies it. He decides to travel to the temple of Apollo at Delphi where he talks to the oracle who tells him he will kill his father, marry his mother, and have sex with her. Frightened by this prophecy, he says

Creon returns and tells Oedipus that once the murderer of the old King is found, the plague will end. Oedipus promises to find this murderer and banish him. Creon tells him that there is one witness, a shepherd that lives on the mountain. Oedipus asks the people of Thebes if they know any information about the Kings death. They tell him to send for the blind prophet, Teiresias, but Oedipus has already done so. When Teiresias arrives, he tells Oedipus that he does not want to hear the truth. Oedipus threatens him with death. Teiresias tells Oedipus he is the murderer. Oedipus and Teiresias get into an argument which is interrupted by Jocasta. Jocasta calms Oedipus after hearing what the prophet has said. She claims it is impossible for him to have killed Laius, but when she describes him, the description matches that of the old man Oedipus killed years ago. Oedipus sends for the one witness. While he waits he tells Jocasta about his past; his family, the prophecy, and the story of the old man. Jocasta is on her way to the temple when she finds a messenger with news from Corinth. Oedipus’s father, Polybus, is