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That she and the Theban throne are offered as rewards that he accepts, that he does not know her true identity and that he is not being cautious are the reasons why Oedipus ends up marrying his mother in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Oedipus receives the dreadful prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. He already questions whether Corinthian monarchs Polybus and Merope are his biological parents. But he panics and runs away to Thebes, where his reward for killing the monstrous Sphinx is marriage with Thebes' beautiful widowed Queen Jocasta. A problem is that he may resemble his wife in gesture, feature or expression and that she is old enough to be his mother, which she indeed turns out to be.

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Q: How does Oedipus end up marrying his mother in 'Oedipus Rex'?
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Why does Oedipus marry his mother in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Because of the reality of the situation and because of his culture, Oedipus ends up marrying his own mother in the play "Oedipus Rex."Specifically, according to the facts of the situation, Oedipus solves the riddle of the Sphinx and thereby saves the entire city of Thebes from destruction and death. The reward is marriage to widowed Theban Queen Jocasta and the throne of Thebes. But an additional explanation is that Oedipus' fate is being carried out inexorably despite all attempts to the contrary. In fact, according to prophecy, he will end up killing his father and sovereign and marrying his mother. That is exactly what happens.


Whom does Creon bring to Oedipus at the end of 'Oedipus Rex'?

Oedipus' daughters are the individuals whom Creon brings to Oedipus at the end of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princesses Antigone and Ismene are King Oedipus' daughters and half-sisters. Oedipus is supposed to be shunned if not outright isolated for killing his father and marrying his mother. But Creon lets Oedipus, his brother-in-law and royal predecessor, meet with his children while everyone awaits the expression of divine will as to whether Oedipus is to be punished with execution or exile for his albeit unknowing criminal act and immoral behavior.


What does Oedipus learn by the end of 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he is abhorrent to, and must be obedient to, gods and to mortals is what Oedipus learns at the end of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. -- 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus recognizes that he is immoral in marrying his mother and in having children with her and criminal in killing his father and his king. All three acts, albeit unknowing, are offenses against the gods and all people. Oedipus has neither a personal and professional life nor his sight any more. He therefore must back off from giving orders and learn how to take orders from mortals and follow the orders of the gods.


Is the tragedy of character or fate in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Character and fate both are involved in Oedipus' tragedy in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a tragedy deals with an unfortunate turn or end to life. Oedipus hears a horrible prophecy that causes him to run scared for the rest of his life. His understandable panic over a fate of killing his father and marrying his mother leads him to make less than the best choices. In fact, he makes all the choices that the gods need in order for his fate to be fulfilled.


Why is Oedipus a better man at the end of 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he knows his true identity is a reason why Oedipus is a better man at the end of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus fights all of his life against the realization of his fate as his father's killer and his mother's husband. He ultimately finds out that all his choices are made from the starting point of a flawed perspective. He knows who he is, what he is up against and what his options are.

Related questions

Why does Oedipus marry his mother in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Because of the reality of the situation and because of his culture, Oedipus ends up marrying his own mother in the play "Oedipus Rex."Specifically, according to the facts of the situation, Oedipus solves the riddle of the Sphinx and thereby saves the entire city of Thebes from destruction and death. The reward is marriage to widowed Theban Queen Jocasta and the throne of Thebes. But an additional explanation is that Oedipus' fate is being carried out inexorably despite all attempts to the contrary. In fact, according to prophecy, he will end up killing his father and sovereign and marrying his mother. That is exactly what happens.


Whom does Creon bring to Oedipus at the end of 'Oedipus Rex'?

Oedipus' daughters are the individuals whom Creon brings to Oedipus at the end of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Princesses Antigone and Ismene are King Oedipus' daughters and half-sisters. Oedipus is supposed to be shunned if not outright isolated for killing his father and marrying his mother. But Creon lets Oedipus, his brother-in-law and royal predecessor, meet with his children while everyone awaits the expression of divine will as to whether Oedipus is to be punished with execution or exile for his albeit unknowing criminal act and immoral behavior.


What does Oedipus learn by the end of 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he is abhorrent to, and must be obedient to, gods and to mortals is what Oedipus learns at the end of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. -- 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus recognizes that he is immoral in marrying his mother and in having children with her and criminal in killing his father and his king. All three acts, albeit unknowing, are offenses against the gods and all people. Oedipus has neither a personal and professional life nor his sight any more. He therefore must back off from giving orders and learn how to take orders from mortals and follow the orders of the gods.


Is the tragedy of character or fate in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Character and fate both are involved in Oedipus' tragedy in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a tragedy deals with an unfortunate turn or end to life. Oedipus hears a horrible prophecy that causes him to run scared for the rest of his life. His understandable panic over a fate of killing his father and marrying his mother leads him to make less than the best choices. In fact, he makes all the choices that the gods need in order for his fate to be fulfilled.


Why is Oedipus a better man at the end of 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he knows his true identity is a reason why Oedipus is a better man at the end of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus fights all of his life against the realization of his fate as his father's killer and his mother's husband. He ultimately finds out that all his choices are made from the starting point of a flawed perspective. He knows who he is, what he is up against and what his options are.


How is Oedipus different at the beginning of Oedipus Rex than at the end?

There are many was that Oedipus is The most obvious being - he is now blind (having blinded himself) and he is aware that the oracle has come true. That he did in fact Kill his father and marry his mother.


What does Oedipus say in his monologue at the end of 'Oedipus Rex'?

That the choices made by his daughters and by his brother-in-law may make a difference in the course of their lives is what Oedipus says in the monologue at the end of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, former Theban King Oedipus says that his killing his father and marrying his mother will make life difficult for his daughters, who also are his half-sisters. Because of Oedipus' criminal actions and immoral behavior, Princesses Antigone and Ismene may expect a miserable life of cruelty, isolation, poverty and spinsterhood. But with a protector such as their uncle, King Creon, and with the appropriate attitude and supportive behavior, they just may end up far happier and more fortunate than may be expected of the children of murder and incest.


What does Oedipus do when he first hears the prophecy about himself as an adult?

Oedipus flees in an attempt to traverse what was inevitably in store for him. In the end, instead of running away from the prophecy, he ran right into it- marrying and bearing children with his mother and killing his father.


Does Oedipus die at the end of 'Oedipus Rex'?

No, Theban King Oedipus doesn't die at the end of 'Oedipus Rex'. The play ends with his blinding himself and waiting to hear whether he'll be executed or exiled. The King's exile and ultimate death is covered in 'Oedipus at Colonus'. That's the sequel to 'Oedipus Rex'. It's at Colonus that Oedipus dies. It's also where the play's writer, Sophocles [c. 496 B.C.E. - c. 406 B.C.E.], grows up and his family is from.


Is there a plague in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Yes, there's a plague in 'Oedipus Rex'. It actually is called a 'pestilence'. It's ravaging the city's population, livestock and crops. Everyone is at wits' end as to how to end or at least soften the effects.


Does the action in 'Oedipus Rex' take place near the end of the Oedipus myth?

Yes, the play "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.) takes place near to, but not at, end of the Oedipus myth.Specifically, how the myth ends is the subject of two other plays by the same ancient Greek playwright. "Oedipus at Colonus," as the chronological sequel to "Oedipus Rex," covers the Theban King's exile and happy death at Colonus. "Antigone," as the chronological sequel to "Oedipus at Colonus," covers what happens to Oedipus' children.


Where is Oedipus a king in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Thebes is the place at which Oedipus is king in the play "Oedipus Rex" by ancient Greek playwright Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus becomes King of Thebes by marrying Queen Jocasta, widow of previous King Laius. In actuality, he is king by right since he really is Jocasta's son and therefore in the royal line of descent from Cadmus, founder and first king of Thebes. Towards the play's end, Oedipus learns that the throne of Corinth is his for the asking as foster son and heir of Corinthian monarchs Polybus and Merope.