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Oedipus's father tries to kill his son to prevent the prophesy, that Oedipus will kill the father and marry the mother, from happening. The gods prophesied as such and they didn't want it to happen.

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Q: Why does Oedipus' father try to have his son killed?
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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.


Conflict in Oedipus Rex?

In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus learns of a prophecy that says he will marry his mother and kill his father. He flees the town to try to prevent it from coming true but he doesn't know that the people he just left weren't his real parents. On his way to a new town, Oedipus kills his real father and ends up marrying his mother (not knowing they were his real parents). The conflict is that he tells his people that the king's murderer needs to be killed to avenge his death and remove the plague. Little does he know that he is the murderer...


Why did the parents of Oedipus send him away to die?

To try to avoid the prophecy that said he was going to kill his father they all thought that they could avoid the prophesy of the oracle at Delphi. They put themselves above the gods in their desire to control their destinies, and that is the highest order of hubris. Oedipus's parents think they can avoid having their son kill his father by sending him away; later in life Oedipus thinks he can run away from his "father" to avoid killing him. In the end, the prophesy is completely fulfilled because there is no avoiding a prophesy of the gods.


What is the moral of the story of Oedipus Rex?

There are many morals to be taken from the story of Oedipus the King. Some of which are:Don't obsess over things out of your controlSome things are best to be handled in privateBeware of prideHeed the advice of wisdom


Who is dehumanized in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Oedipus, Laius and Jocasta are dehumanized in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, dehumanization refers to making someone seem monstrous, not even human. The description fits Theban monarchs Oedipus, Laius and Jocasta. Queen Jocasta and her first husband, King Laius, do not seem human because they try to kill their own son, the three-day-old infant Oedipus. Jocasta and her second husband, King Oedipus, do not seem human because they commit mother-son incest.

Related questions

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 does Macbeth have to murder to keep one of the witches prophecies from coming true?

The wrong people. In order to thwart the prophecy about Banquo's children becoming kings, he has Banquo killed, but not his son Fleance. Fleance will go on to become the ancestor of kings. Macbeth killed the father when he should have killed the son. Then, in order to try to thwart the prophecy about Macduff, he has Macduff's son (and wife and other children) murdered. Macduff will go on to defeat Macbeth. Macbeth killed the son when he should have killed the father.


Conflict in Oedipus Rex?

In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus learns of a prophecy that says he will marry his mother and kill his father. He flees the town to try to prevent it from coming true but he doesn't know that the people he just left weren't his real parents. On his way to a new town, Oedipus kills his real father and ends up marrying his mother (not knowing they were his real parents). The conflict is that he tells his people that the king's murderer needs to be killed to avenge his death and remove the plague. Little does he know that he is the murderer...


How does Laius try to avoid his prophesied destiny in 'Oedipus the King'?

It is by having his own son killed that Laius tries to avoid his prophesized destiny in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Laius receives a prophecy that any son that he and his wife Queen Jocasta may have will grow up to kill him. Killing a father is serious, and killing a father who also is one's sovereign is even worse, in ancient Greece. In contrast, killing an infant, particularly to prevent an offense against gods and mortals from taking place, constitutes no offense. Laius therefore asks Jocasta to abandon their three-day-old infant son Oedipus to ravaging weather and foraging wildlife on the mountains outside Thebes.


Why did the parents of Oedipus send him away to die?

To try to avoid the prophecy that said he was going to kill his father they all thought that they could avoid the prophesy of the oracle at Delphi. They put themselves above the gods in their desire to control their destinies, and that is the highest order of hubris. Oedipus's parents think they can avoid having their son kill his father by sending him away; later in life Oedipus thinks he can run away from his "father" to avoid killing him. In the end, the prophesy is completely fulfilled because there is no avoiding a prophesy of the gods.


Did Jackie Robinson's father try to contact his son?

no, he hated him!!!!!


Why do the Delphic oracle's predictions come true even though Oedipus tries to stop them in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he makes poor choices because he has a mistaken self-image is the reason that the Delphic oracle's predictions come true even though Oedipus tries to stop them in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Delphic oracle advises that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus believes himself to be the son of Corinthian monarchs Polybus and Merope even though he hears rumors to the contrary. He decides to try to outrun his fate and outwit the gods. The problem is that he really is the biological son of Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta. Ironically, Thebes is his destination.


What is the moral of the story of Oedipus Rex?

There are many morals to be taken from the story of Oedipus the King. Some of which are:Don't obsess over things out of your controlSome things are best to be handled in privateBeware of prideHeed the advice of wisdom


Who is dehumanized in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Oedipus, Laius and Jocasta are dehumanized in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, dehumanization refers to making someone seem monstrous, not even human. The description fits Theban monarchs Oedipus, Laius and Jocasta. Queen Jocasta and her first husband, King Laius, do not seem human because they try to kill their own son, the three-day-old infant Oedipus. Jocasta and her second husband, King Oedipus, do not seem human because they commit mother-son incest.


How is prophecy significant in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The significance of prophecy in 'Oedipus Rex' is its being carried out despite the opposition and strategies of mortals. It's prophesied that Theban King Laius will be murdered by his own son, who then will marry his own mother. Both the parents and their son, subsequent Theban King Oedipus, try to avoid such a horrific fate. But the more they hide and the further they run, the closer they get to their god ordained fates.


Who is the Queen of Thebes and Oedipus' mother in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Jocasta is the Queen of Thebes and the mother of Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Jocasta is Theban Queen because of her first marriage to King Laius. Jocasta and Laius also are related as cousins who descend from Thebes' founding King Cadmus, but by different grandchildren. They are the reluctant parents of their son Oedipus, whom they try to kill.


What does Jocasta do in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Try to end a fight between Oedipus and Creon, sendfor the eyewitness to Laius' murder, receive the news of the Corinthian messenger, try to talk Oedipus out of the interview of the two shepherds, and kill herself are what Jocasta does in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban monarchs Jocasta and Oedipus are in the middle of a murder investigation into the long-ago mysterious death of Laius, Jocasta's first husband. Oedipus gets into a fight with Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague. Jocasta tries to end the fight by separating the two and sending for the sole eyewitness to Laius' murder. While waiting, Jocasta learns from a Corinthian messenger that Oedipus' presumed father is dead. During the eyewitness' interview, Jocasta tries to stop the information-gathering process. She realizes that Oedipus is her own son and Laius' killer and kills herself because of that knowledge.