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Somewhere in his twenties is probably Oedipus' age when he kills his father in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Oedipus is old enough to make trips on his own. For example, he is old enough to visit the Delphic Oracle on his own and to travel from Corinth to Delphi and Thebes. But he is still young enough to react violently and without self-control during a street fight over right-of-way at the meeting of the Daulia, Delphi and Thebes roads in the land of Phoci. This is the very fight in which he hot-headedly kills a stranger who turns out to be his father, Theban King Laius.

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How and why does Oedipus kill the old man in 'Oedipus Rex'?

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.


What is the dramatic irony of Jocasta's speech in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That all of the prophecies do come true is the dramatic irony in Jocasta's speech in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, dramatic irony refers to the characters in a play having an incomplete or incorrect understanding of their situations or their words. Theban Queen Jocasta says that Oedipus may not kill his father or marry his mother because not all prophecies come true. She observes that Oedipus' father, Corinthian King Polybus, dies from illness and old age at a time where he is in Corinth and Oedipus is way off in Thebes. But in actuality, Oedipus' father is not Polybus but King Laius, whom Oedipus unknowingly kills.


Who is the true father of Oedipus whom he kills?

Theban King Laius is the true, biological father of the son, Theban King Oedipus, who ends up killing him.Specifically, as a young man, Oedipus hears a rumor that King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth are his foster or adoptive parents instead of the biological parents that he believes them to be. The Delphic Oracle depresses and scares Oedipus even further by predicting his fate to kill his father and marry his mother.In reponse, Oedipus decides not to return home to Corinth. Instead, he decides to flee to Thebes, his real hometown. On the way there, Oedipus kills a man who is old enough to be his father and whom he somewhat resembles. Once in Thebes, Oedipus soon marries the beautiful, recently widowed Theban Queen Jocasta, who is old enough to be his mother.Ironically, the stranger that Oedipus kills and the stranger that Oedipus marries indeed are his respective father and mother.


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.


What is the relevance of hamartia and hubris to 'Oedipus Rex'?

That they contribute to Oedipus' downfall is the relevance of hamartia and hubris to "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, hamartia describes an error in judgment, and hubris refers to an exaggerated sense of self, arrogance, pride. Theban King Oedipus evidences hamartiawhen he abandons his family, consults the oracle, kills a man old enough to be his father and marries a woman old enough to be his mother. He exhibits hubris when he believes himself capable of defying divinely ordained fate and neglects mandatory purification procedures.

Related Questions

Why does Oedipus' father die in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Old age and illness are the reasons why Oedipus' adopted father dies in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Corinthian King Polybus is Oedipus' adopted father. The two have not seen each other for almost two decades. But on what turns out to be his last day on the job, Theban King Oedipus gets the news of Polybus' death and an invitation to occupy the Corinthian throne.


How and why does Oedipus kill the old man in 'Oedipus Rex'?

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.


What is the dramatic irony of Jocasta's speech in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That all of the prophecies do come true is the dramatic irony in Jocasta's speech in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, dramatic irony refers to the characters in a play having an incomplete or incorrect understanding of their situations or their words. Theban Queen Jocasta says that Oedipus may not kill his father or marry his mother because not all prophecies come true. She observes that Oedipus' father, Corinthian King Polybus, dies from illness and old age at a time where he is in Corinth and Oedipus is way off in Thebes. But in actuality, Oedipus' father is not Polybus but King Laius, whom Oedipus unknowingly kills.


Who is the true father of Oedipus whom he kills?

Theban King Laius is the true, biological father of the son, Theban King Oedipus, who ends up killing him.Specifically, as a young man, Oedipus hears a rumor that King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth are his foster or adoptive parents instead of the biological parents that he believes them to be. The Delphic Oracle depresses and scares Oedipus even further by predicting his fate to kill his father and marry his mother.In reponse, Oedipus decides not to return home to Corinth. Instead, he decides to flee to Thebes, his real hometown. On the way there, Oedipus kills a man who is old enough to be his father and whom he somewhat resembles. Once in Thebes, Oedipus soon marries the beautiful, recently widowed Theban Queen Jocasta, who is old enough to be his mother.Ironically, the stranger that Oedipus kills and the stranger that Oedipus marries indeed are his respective father and mother.


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.


How does Jocasta reason with Oedipus that he cannot be guilty of his father's death in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That father and son are nowhere near each other at the time of the latter's death is the way in which Jocasta reasons with Oedipus that he cannot be guilty of his father's death in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta points out that King Polybus is home in Corinth and that Oedipus is at home in Thebes. Polybus dies from illness and old age, not from murder. Oedipus therefore cannot be said to have anything to do with his presumed father's death to Jocasta's way of thinking.


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.


What is the relevance of hamartia and hubris to 'Oedipus Rex'?

That they contribute to Oedipus' downfall is the relevance of hamartia and hubris to "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, hamartia describes an error in judgment, and hubris refers to an exaggerated sense of self, arrogance, pride. Theban King Oedipus evidences hamartiawhen he abandons his family, consults the oracle, kills a man old enough to be his father and marries a woman old enough to be his mother. He exhibits hubris when he believes himself capable of defying divinely ordained fate and neglects mandatory purification procedures.


Why does Jocasta think that the messenger's news will be a relief to Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That it indicates that his father's death is from natural causes is the reason why Jocasta thinks that the messenger's news will be a relief to Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus has the prophesied fate of his father's killer and his mother's husband. But then Jocasta hears of the death of Corinthian King Polybus, her husband's presumed father. She looks forward to sharing with Oedipus since Polybus dies of illness and old age in Corinth while Oedipus is far away in Thebes.


What news does the Messenger bring from Oedipus' homeland and why does it relieve Jocasta in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That Polybus is dead is the news that the Messenger brings from Oedipus' homeland and that the death is from natural causes is the reason why Jocasta is relived in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus fears his fate as his father's killer. But the Corinthian messenger lets Oedipus' wife Queen Jocasta know that Oedipus' presumed father, King Polybus, is dead from illness and old age. Jocasta welcomes the news since Oedipus is far away in Thebes and therefore cannot be said to bring about his father's death in Corinth.


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.


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.