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Theban King Laius is the royal predecessor of Theban King Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'. But neither one of them expects that to be the case. Laius leaves his hometown of Thebes, for a trip to consult with the Delphic Oracle. Oedipus leaves what he thinks is his hometown of Corinth, to do likewise.

Understandably, Oedipus doesn't like what the Oracle says. So he doesn't go back home. Instead, he heads towards a crossroads between Delphi and Thebes. That's at the same time that Laius leaves Thebes for the crossroads, and Delphi. The two paths meet. There's a street brawl over right of way. Laius ends up dead.

Oedipus goes on to claim Laius' job, residence, and wife. But there's a problem. Unbeknownst to the two of them, Oedipus is Laius' long lost son.

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Q: Who is the royal predecessor of Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?
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What is the tragic conflict in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That Oedipus seeks a killer and that he may be that killer is the tragic conflict in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus has to find and punish the guilty in the murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. But he is warned by his royal advisor, Teiresias the blind prophet, that he is the murderer. Oedipus therefore must resolve whether or not to continue in an investigation that may prove him guilty and that may lead to his execution or exile.


Does Teiresias have good news for Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

No, Teiresias does not have good news for Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus meets with Teiresias the blind prophet in an attempt to collect information about the death of his royal predecessor, King Laius. But he ends up really disliking what Teiresias has to say. Teiresias in fact charges Oedipus with being Laius' killer.


Who is the murderer Oedipus seeks in 'Oedipus Rex'?

He himself is the murderer sought by Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus seeks to identify and punish the guilty in the murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. The chorus speaks of a group of travellers as the rumored perpetrators at the time of the long-ago crime. But Teiresias the blind prophet tells Oedipus that he himself is the killer.


What is ironic about Oedipus calling Creon a murderer in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he himself is a murderer is what is ironic about Oedipus calling Creon a murderer in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, all Thebes is looking for the murderer of Theban King Laius, King Oedipus' royal predecessor. Oedipus needs to make good on his promise to find and punish the guilty. But he starts off badly by making groundless accusations against Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague, and against Teiresias, his royal advisor, and Thebes' respected blind prophet.


Who murders Laius in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Oedipus murders Laius in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus kills an older version of himself in a street brawl at the Delphi-Daulia crossroads in Phocis. He defends himself against an arrogant older man and his rowdy companions. Years later, Oedipus comes to realize that the stranger is Laius, his royal predecessor at Thebes.

Related questions

Whom does Oedipus think is framing him in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is Creon and Teiresias that Oedipus thinks is framing him in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Teiresias the blind prophet accuses Theban King Oedipus of being the murderer of King Laius. Oedipus does not remember ever meeting Laius, his royal predecessor and his wife's first husband. Such a treasonous charge is punishable by execution or exile. Oedipus looks to who benefits from his overthrow. He notes that Creon, his royal colleague, and Teiresias, his royal advisor, have the most to gain by his fall from power.


What is the tragic conflict in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That Oedipus seeks a killer and that he may be that killer is the tragic conflict in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus has to find and punish the guilty in the murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. But he is warned by his royal advisor, Teiresias the blind prophet, that he is the murderer. Oedipus therefore must resolve whether or not to continue in an investigation that may prove him guilty and that may lead to his execution or exile.


Does Teiresias have good news for Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

No, Teiresias does not have good news for Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus meets with Teiresias the blind prophet in an attempt to collect information about the death of his royal predecessor, King Laius. But he ends up really disliking what Teiresias has to say. Teiresias in fact charges Oedipus with being Laius' killer.


Who is the murderer Oedipus seeks in 'Oedipus Rex'?

He himself is the murderer sought by Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus seeks to identify and punish the guilty in the murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. The chorus speaks of a group of travellers as the rumored perpetrators at the time of the long-ago crime. But Teiresias the blind prophet tells Oedipus that he himself is the killer.


What is ironic about Oedipus calling Creon a murderer in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he himself is a murderer is what is ironic about Oedipus calling Creon a murderer in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, all Thebes is looking for the murderer of Theban King Laius, King Oedipus' royal predecessor. Oedipus needs to make good on his promise to find and punish the guilty. But he starts off badly by making groundless accusations against Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague, and against Teiresias, his royal advisor, and Thebes' respected blind prophet.


Who murders Laius in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Oedipus murders Laius in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus kills an older version of himself in a street brawl at the Delphi-Daulia crossroads in Phocis. He defends himself against an arrogant older man and his rowdy companions. Years later, Oedipus comes to realize that the stranger is Laius, his royal predecessor at Thebes.


What does Oedipus want the murderer to do in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Turn himself in is what Oedipus wants the murderer to do in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus looks for the guilty in the murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. He seeks quick results, because his city's pestilence will end with the murderer's identification and punishment. He suggests that the murderer make things easy and surrender.


Is Oedipus a tyrant in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Yes, Oedipus is a tyrant in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the original title of the play is "OedipusTyrannus" in Greek. According to the ancient Greeks, a tyrant seizes power by illegal means. Oedipus becomes King of Thebes by killing Laius, his royal predecessor and own father, and by marrying Jocasta, Laius' widow and Oedipus' mother. Both actions that lead to his kingship are illegal.


Does Oedipus deserve the punishment he receives in 'Oedipus Rex'?

No, Oedipus does not deserve the punishment that he receives in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus will be executed or exiled for killing his royal predecessor, King Laius. But he kills in self-defense. Laius in fact is a bully who takes away Oedipus' right of way and hits him on the head with a double whip, which is insulting in ancient Greece and really really hurts.


What is the city of Oedipus' birth in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Thebes is the city where Oedipus is born in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus is born in the Theban royal palace. Even though he is a member of the royal household, he is supposed to be abandoned in the wilderness outside Thebes. But he almost immediately is fostered into the Corinthian royal palace to be raised as a Corinthian royal.


Why does Oedipus doubt what Teiresias tells him about the identity of Laius' murderer in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Because he himself is the accused, Oedipus doubts what Teiresias says about the identity of Laius' murderer in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus arrives in Thebes after the death of Theban King Laius. So he does not remember ever meeting his royal predecessor. He therefore doubts that he can be identified and punished as Laius' murderer.


How does Oedipus cause problems in Thebes in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is by not carrying out cleansing rituals and by not looking into his royal predecessor's death that Oedipus causes problems in Thebes in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus commits five murders before coming to Thebes. He does not go through mandatory purification procedures with which he is very familiar as a royal. He then finds out that he can marry the beautiful widowed Queen, whose husband's murder he does not look into even though, once again, he is a royal and knows about mandatory cleansing rituals. This is all very polluting for Thebes and Thebans.