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It is in self-defense with his staff that Oedipus kills the old man in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Oedipus has the right-of-way at the Delphi-Daulis crossroads in the land of Phocis. But that right is not respected by a stranger who is accompanied by a five-member escort party. The stranger's herald pushes Oedipus, and the stranger then hits Oedipus on top of the head with a double whip, which really hurts.

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Q: How and why does Oedipus kill the old man in 'Oedipus Rex'?
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Why does Oedipus kill an old man at the crossroads in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is in self-defense that Oedipus kills an old man in the crossroads in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus is coming from Delphi. An older version of himself is accompanied by a five-member escort party that is heading towards Delphi. Oedipus has the right-of-way, which nevertheless is disrespected by the elderly man. The elderly man's servant pushes Oedipus, the old man hits him on the head with a double whip, and it really hurts. Oedipus responds in self-defense, which quickly escalates to deadly force against the old man and four of his five companions.


Why is Oedipus planning to kill Jocasta in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That she is the mother who believes in infant killing and who marries her own son are reasons why Oedipus plans to kill Jocasta in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus learns that he is the biological son of his wife, Queen Jocasta. He realizes that he is alive because Jocasta's most trusted servant does against orders and does not kill the three-day-old infant Oedipus as he is ordered to do. He sees that Jocasta has the greater blame in the incest since she gives birth to him and should have recognized him as her only child from her first marriage.


How does the dramatic irony in Oedipus lead to interrogation with Creon?

On his journey, Oedipus kills a man and his companions on the road, which turn out to be King Laius and his men. Oedipus, without knowing that the man he killed was Laius, swears to find the man that killed the old king and kill him as well. This is ironic because he is unknowingly swearing to kill himself.


Why is man the answer to the riddle solved by Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he crawls as a baby, moves independently in adolescence and maturity, and requires assistance in old age is the reason why man is the answer to the riddle solved by Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx describes the life form as moving on all fours in the morning of life. Then she mentions that the movement changes to twos in the afternoon. Finally, she says that the movements becomes by threes in the evening.


What does Laius do to his child when he learns his fate in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Order to have him killed is what Laius does when he learns his child's fate in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Laius hears the prophecy that his son will grow up to kill him. It is far more serious for a child to kill his father than vice versa in ancient Greece. Laius therefore tells his wife, Queen Jocasta, to kill their three-day-old infant son Oedipus.

Related questions

Why does Oedipus kill an old man at the crossroads in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is in self-defense that Oedipus kills an old man in the crossroads in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus is coming from Delphi. An older version of himself is accompanied by a five-member escort party that is heading towards Delphi. Oedipus has the right-of-way, which nevertheless is disrespected by the elderly man. The elderly man's servant pushes Oedipus, the old man hits him on the head with a double whip, and it really hurts. Oedipus responds in self-defense, which quickly escalates to deadly force against the old man and four of his five companions.


Who identifies the old shepherd as the man who spares the infant Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is the Corinthian messenger who identifies the old shepherd as the man who spares the infant Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Corinthian messenger is in a position to know. At the time of Theban King Oedipus' infancy, the messenger is working as a shepherd. He gets to have his flocks graze in Thebes between spring and fall. He accepts Oedipus from the Theban shepherd who cannot bring himself to carry out royal orders to kill the three-day-old infant.


Why is Oedipus planning to kill Jocasta in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That she is the mother who believes in infant killing and who marries her own son are reasons why Oedipus plans to kill Jocasta in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus learns that he is the biological son of his wife, Queen Jocasta. He realizes that he is alive because Jocasta's most trusted servant does against orders and does not kill the three-day-old infant Oedipus as he is ordered to do. He sees that Jocasta has the greater blame in the incest since she gives birth to him and should have recognized him as her only child from her first marriage.


How does the dramatic irony in Oedipus lead to interrogation with Creon?

On his journey, Oedipus kills a man and his companions on the road, which turn out to be King Laius and his men. Oedipus, without knowing that the man he killed was Laius, swears to find the man that killed the old king and kill him as well. This is ironic because he is unknowingly swearing to kill himself.


Why is man the answer to the riddle solved by Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he crawls as a baby, moves independently in adolescence and maturity, and requires assistance in old age is the reason why man is the answer to the riddle solved by Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx describes the life form as moving on all fours in the morning of life. Then she mentions that the movement changes to twos in the afternoon. Finally, she says that the movements becomes by threes in the evening.


What does Laius do to his child when he learns his fate in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Order to have him killed is what Laius does when he learns his child's fate in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Laius hears the prophecy that his son will grow up to kill him. It is far more serious for a child to kill his father than vice versa in ancient Greece. Laius therefore tells his wife, Queen Jocasta, to kill their three-day-old infant son Oedipus.


Is it justice that Oedipus faces his fate in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Yes, it is justice that Oedipus face his fate in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus hears the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. That is exactly what he does when he kills an older version of himself and when he marries a beautiful woman old enough to be his mother. Oedipus lacks intent to kill other than in self-defense or to commit incest. But he makes those mistakes and needs to face the consequences of his inattentiveness to detail and rash decision making.


Who is Oedipus' real mother in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Jocasta is Oedipus' real mother in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta is King Oedipus' real biological mother. But she last sees him when he is three days old. She thinks that he is dead, and Oedipus believes his mother to be someone else.


What are the names of Oedipus' parents in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Laius and Jocasta are Oedipus' parents in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta are parents to just one son, Oedipus. They become frightened over a prophecy that Oedipus will grow up to kill his father. They therefore hand their three-day-old infant over to be killed by the weather and wildlife outside their hometown of Thebes. It is unknown whether or not they even try to have other children.


Who is cast aside by his parents in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Oedipus is cast aside by his parents in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta receive the dreadful prophecy that their son will grow up to kill his father. It is much more serious to kill a parent, particularly if that father is also one's sovereign, than to kill an infant. The royal couple therefore decide to let their three-day-old son Oedipus die from exposure to the ravaging weather and scrounging wildlife outside Thebes.


How is the Sphinx's riddle solved in 'Oedipus Rex'?

With Oedipus' answer of "man" is the way in which the Sphinx's riddle is solved in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx's riddle asks which life form moves on all fours in the morning of life, on twos in the afternoon and on threes in the evening. Oedipus alone knows that it is man who crawls as a baby through infancy, gets by on his own as an adult and needs a cane in old age. It is ironic that clever, results-oriented Oedipus nevertheless cannot solve the riddle of his own existence.


Does Oedipus stubbornly ignore the truth that stares him in the face for many years in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Yes, Oedipus stubbornly ignores the truth that stares him in the face for many years in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus kills a man whom he recognizes at the time as looking like an older version of himself. He then marries a woman whom he recognizes at the time as beautiful but old enough to be his mother. He ultimately realizes the truth that remains at all times in front of him: that his victim is the father whom he is prophesied to kill and that his spouse is the mother whom he is prophesied to marry.