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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.

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Q: Why does Oedipus kill an old man at the crossroads in 'Oedipus Rex'?
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Why does Oedipus kill five men at the crossroads in 'Oedipus Rex'?

In self-defense and then in anger are the reasons why Oedipus kills five men at the crossroads in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus enters the crossroads from Delphi. A six-member group enters the crossroads from the Thebes side. Oedipus has the right-of-way, but the charioteer jostles him. Oedipus shoves back. The elderly man in the carriage then strikes Oedipus on the head with a double whip, and it really hurts. Oedipus hits back with his staff. He then goes on to kill all but one in the entire party. So the first two interactions are in self-defense, and the remaining lethal force is carried out in anger.


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.


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.


Why is crossroads the theme of 'Oedipus Rex'?

That Oedipus' flaw comes out and that his fate is met at the intersection of three roads is the reason why crossroads is the theme of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus dislikes his prophesied fate as his father's killer and his mother's husband. He leaves home, but makes a murderous mistake at the Delphi-Daulia intersection on the way to Thebes. He makes the decision to respond in kind, and in self-defense, to the unwarranted violence of a man whom he resembles and who is old enough to be his father.


Is it his birth or adoptive father that Oedipus was supposed to kill in the play 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is his birth father that Oedipus is supposed to kill in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a prophet tells Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta that their son, Oedipus, will grow up to kill his father. As a young man, Oedipus goes to Delphi to consult the Pythia, ancient Greece's foremost oracle. He gets the disturbing news that he will grow up to kill his father and marry his mother. It therefore appears to be a prophecy about Oedipus' birth not adoptive father.

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Why does Oedipus kill five men at the crossroads in 'Oedipus Rex'?

In self-defense and then in anger are the reasons why Oedipus kills five men at the crossroads in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus enters the crossroads from Delphi. A six-member group enters the crossroads from the Thebes side. Oedipus has the right-of-way, but the charioteer jostles him. Oedipus shoves back. The elderly man in the carriage then strikes Oedipus on the head with a double whip, and it really hurts. Oedipus hits back with his staff. He then goes on to kill all but one in the entire party. So the first two interactions are in self-defense, and the remaining lethal force is carried out in anger.


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.


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.


Why is crossroads the theme of 'Oedipus Rex'?

That Oedipus' flaw comes out and that his fate is met at the intersection of three roads is the reason why crossroads is the theme of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus dislikes his prophesied fate as his father's killer and his mother's husband. He leaves home, but makes a murderous mistake at the Delphi-Daulia intersection on the way to Thebes. He makes the decision to respond in kind, and in self-defense, to the unwarranted violence of a man whom he resembles and who is old enough to be his father.


Is it his birth or adoptive father that Oedipus was supposed to kill in the play 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is his birth father that Oedipus is supposed to kill in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, a prophet tells Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta that their son, Oedipus, will grow up to kill his father. As a young man, Oedipus goes to Delphi to consult the Pythia, ancient Greece's foremost oracle. He gets the disturbing news that he will grow up to kill his father and marry his mother. It therefore appears to be a prophecy about Oedipus' birth not adoptive father.


What are the places to which Oedipus travels in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Corinth, Delphi, Phocis, and Thebes are the places to which Oedipus travels in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus is born in Thebes, but fostered as an infant into the royal house of Corinth. As a young man, he travels to Delphi to consult the famous, respected Delphic oracle about a troubling rumor regarding his parentage. He then travels from Delphi, through the land of Phocis and on to Thebes by way of the Delphi-Daulis-Thebes crossroads.


Is Teiresias a man or a woman when he meets Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is as a man that Teiresias meets Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Teiresias the blind prophet has a complete gender experience. He knows what it is like to be a woman before and after his life as a man. He presents himself in permanent male form when he advises Theban King Oedipus.


Who identifies the old shepherd as the man who spares the infant Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is the Corinthian messenger who identifies the old shepherd as the man who spares the infant Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Corinthian messenger is in a position to know. At the time of Theban King Oedipus' infancy, the messenger is working as a shepherd. He gets to have his flocks graze in Thebes between spring and fall. He accepts Oedipus from the Theban shepherd who cannot bring himself to carry out royal orders to kill the three-day-old infant.


What insight does Creon give into the man Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Hot-tempered, stubborn, tormented andunsportmanlike are the insights that Creon gives on the man Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus argues with his royal colleague, Creon. Creon behaves with respect, but voices personal criticisms of his brother-in-law. He observes that Oedipus is quick to get angry, slow to concede a point and unhappy to lose.


Why is Oedipus considered the wisest man on earth in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he solves the Sphinx's riddle is the reason why Oedipus is considered the wisest man on earth in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx asks what life form moves on fours in the morning, twos in the afternoon and threes in the evening. No one can figure out the answer. But Oedipus figures out that it is a man crawling as a baby, getting around independently as an adult and needing assistance as a senior citizen.


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.


Why is Oedipus every man and every man potentially Oedipus in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That we all have inherent limits to self-knowledgeand that we take on trust critical information about ourselves are reasons why Oedipus is every man and every man is potentially Oedipus in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Theban King Oedipus believes himself to be a certain way. He chooses and decides according to what he thinks to be true about himself and others. But he finds out that all his actions are not in his best interest because of his mistaken self-identity. His mistake is due to his accepting misrepresentations about a time when he is most dependent on and vulnerable to the information of others: the facts of his birth and parentage.