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That he was offered as a gift and accepted as the heir apparent to the childless royal couple of Corint is the reason that Oedipus becomes Polybus' son in the play "Oedipus Rex" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Oedipus is supposed to die by exposure on the mountains outside his hometown of Thebes. His parents, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta, are told by the oracle that Oedipus will kill his father if allowed to grow up. A Theban servant to Jocasta and a Corinthian shepherd temporarily in the area take pity on the three-day-old infant and send him off to Corinth. The childless Corinthian monarchs, Polybus and Merope, accept Oedipus as their son and heir.

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Q: How does Oedipus become Polybus' son in 'Oedipus Rex'?
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What happens to Polybus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Death is what happens to Polybus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Corinthian King Polybus dies of illness and old age. His death happens while he is in Corinth. He is supposed to be succeeded by his presumed son, Theban King Oedipus, who is ruling in Thebes when the death occurs.


Who is conversing when Jocasta realizes that Oedipus is her son in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is the Corinthian messenger who is conversing when Jocasta realizes that Oedipus is her son in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Corinthian messenger announces the death of Corinthian King Polybus, Theban King Oedipus' presumed father. During the ensuing conversation, he indicates that Oedipus is Polybus' adopted or foster son. It is when the messenger says that he received the infant Oedipus from one of Theban King Laius' servants that Jocasta recognizes Oedipus as her son.


What crown is Oedipus offered when Polybus dies in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The crown and the throne of Corinth are what Oedipus is offered when Polybus dies in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth raise subsequent Theban King Oedipus in the belief that he is their only son and heir apparent. The childless royal couple has no one other than Oedipus to succeed in the rule of the Corinthian royal house. A Corinthian messenger therefore travels to Thebes to inform Oedipus of Polybus' death and of the job opening in Corinth.


What king adopts the boy Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Polybus is the king who adopts the boy Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Polybus is the king of Corinth and the husband of Queen Merope. They have no children and therefore no heirs to succeed them on throne of Corinth. They therefore are delighted to received Oedipus from a Corinthian shepherd and to adopt him into the royal household as son and heir apparent.


How does Oedipus react to the news of Polybus' death in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Cautiously optimistic is the way in which Oedipus reacts to the news of Polybus' death in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus is relieved to hear of the death of his presumed father, Corinthian King Polybus. Oedipus knows that he is fated to kill his father and marry his mother. But Polybus leaves this world because of illness and old age during the years the his presumed son, King Oedipus, lives in Thebes. But Oedipus still worries since his presumed mother, Queen Merope, still lives.

Related questions

What words by the messenger upset Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That Polybus is not Oedipus' father are the Corinthian messenger's words that upset Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Corinthian messenger announces that Corinthian King Polybus is not Theban King Oedipus' biological father. He indicates that Oedipus is Polybus' adopted or foster son. He mentions that Oedipus is heir to the Corinthian throne even though he is not a native of the city.


What happens to Polybus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Death is what happens to Polybus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Corinthian King Polybus dies of illness and old age. His death happens while he is in Corinth. He is supposed to be succeeded by his presumed son, Theban King Oedipus, who is ruling in Thebes when the death occurs.


Who is conversing when Jocasta realizes that Oedipus is her son in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is the Corinthian messenger who is conversing when Jocasta realizes that Oedipus is her son in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Corinthian messenger announces the death of Corinthian King Polybus, Theban King Oedipus' presumed father. During the ensuing conversation, he indicates that Oedipus is Polybus' adopted or foster son. It is when the messenger says that he received the infant Oedipus from one of Theban King Laius' servants that Jocasta recognizes Oedipus as her son.


What crown is Oedipus offered when Polybus dies in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The crown and the throne of Corinth are what Oedipus is offered when Polybus dies in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth raise subsequent Theban King Oedipus in the belief that he is their only son and heir apparent. The childless royal couple has no one other than Oedipus to succeed in the rule of the Corinthian royal house. A Corinthian messenger therefore travels to Thebes to inform Oedipus of Polybus' death and of the job opening in Corinth.


What king adopts the boy Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Polybus is the king who adopts the boy Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Polybus is the king of Corinth and the husband of Queen Merope. They have no children and therefore no heirs to succeed them on throne of Corinth. They therefore are delighted to received Oedipus from a Corinthian shepherd and to adopt him into the royal household as son and heir apparent.


How does Oedipus react to the news of Polybus' death in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Cautiously optimistic is the way in which Oedipus reacts to the news of Polybus' death in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus is relieved to hear of the death of his presumed father, Corinthian King Polybus. Oedipus knows that he is fated to kill his father and marry his mother. But Polybus leaves this world because of illness and old age during the years the his presumed son, King Oedipus, lives in Thebes. But Oedipus still worries since his presumed mother, Queen Merope, still lives.


Does Oedipus learn that Polybus is not his father before or after asking Jocasta about Laius' death in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is after asking Jocasta about Laius' death that Oedipus learns that Polybus is not his father in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta and her second husband Oedipus compare notes about her first husband's death. While they await the arrival of the eyewitness to Theban King Laius' murder, the royal couple receive the news that Corinthian King Polybus is dead. The Corinthian messenger subsequently reveals that Polybus and Oedipus are not biologically father and son.


Who are Oedipus' foster parents in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Polybus and Merope are Oedipus' foster parents in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Polybus and Merope are the couple who head the Corinthian royal house. They are childless and therefore overjoyed when presented with an infant abandoned outside the city of Thebes. They never speak of the true identity of their foster son Oedipus, whom they love as their own and raise as their heir apparent.


Who gives baby Oedipus to Polybus' messenger in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The Theban shepherd gives the baby Oedipus to Polybus' messenger in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Theban shepherd is Theban Queen Jocasta's most trusted servant. She hands her three-day-old son, Oedipus, over to the shepherd to kill and thereby prevent Oedipus from growing up to his prophesied fate of killing his father. The shepherd then gives Oedipus to a Corinthian shepherd who fosters the infant into the childless Corinthian royal house and who later becomes Corinthian King Polybus' messenger.


Why does Jocasta consider Polybus' death a blessing in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That the death of Polybus is due to natural causes and not to murder by his own son is the reason why Jocasta finds comfort in the news of his demise in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus says that a prophecy warns that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Theban Queen Jocasta points out that prophecies do not always come true. She then points out that Oedipus is in Thebes and Polybus in Corinth when the death of the latter occurs due to illness and old age instead of at Oedipus' hands.


Who is Oedipus' father?

Theban King Laius is Theban King Oedipus' father. But Oedipus doesn't know this critical piece of information when the play 'Oedipus Rex' begins. Instead, he believes himself to be the son and heir apparent of King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth.


Are Oedipus and his father reunited at the beginning of 'Oedipus Rex'?

No, Oedipus and his father Laius are not reunited at the beginning of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus still believes himself to be the son of Corinthian monarchs Polybus and Merope. Additionally, Oedipus' biological father Laius already is dead, at his own son's hands. Oedipus does not reunite with his foster or real parents until after his death, when he joins them in the Underworld of the afterlife.