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It is possibly because of Laius' murder that the Sphinx tortures Thebes in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, no reason is given in the play as to why the Sphinx terrifies Thebes with her ravenous appetite for freshly killed Thebans. But she shows up immediately after Theban King Laius' death, which is not solved and for which no mandatory cleansing rituals are carried out. Other sources suggest that she is Laius' illegitimate daughter and that she arrives because the environment is polluted from the lack of mandatory purification procedures being carried out for Laius' murder.

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Q: Why does the Sphinx torture Thebes in 'Oedipus Rex'?
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How did Oedipus bring the city of Thebes fortune in the book Oedipus Rex?

by answering the riddle of the sphinx and saving Thebes from the rule of the sphinx.


Who ruins Thebes in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The Sphinx and Oedipus ruin Thebes in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx ruins Thebes with her great appetite for freshly killed Thebans. Oedipus ruins Thebes with his two-time neglect of mandatory cleansing rituals. He spreads pollution by not purifying his murders or that of King Laius.


Thebes is the setting of oedipus rex Thebes is the theme of oedipus rex Thebes is the rival of oedipus rex Thebes is the downfall of oedipus rex?

Thebes is the setting of Oedipus Rex because it is the place where the story begins.


Why do the citizens of Thebes make Oedipus their king in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is because he defeats the Sphinx that the citizens of Thebes make Oedipus their king in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx asks a seemingly unsolvable riddle of all incoming and outgoing Thebes. Those who do not have an answer get killed and eaten by the Sphinx. A reward of marriage with widowed Queen Jocasta and job as king of Thebes is offered to whomever defeats the Sphinx. Oedipus knows the correct answer to the riddle, defeats the Sphinx, and gets the girl and the job.


How does Oedipus save Thebes before he is king in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is by defeating the Sphinx that Oedipus saves Thebes before he becomes king "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx asks a troublesome riddle of all incoming and outgoing Thebans. No answer or one that is incorrect means that the Sphinx gets to indulge her appetite for freshly killed Thebans. But Oedipus puts an end to the Sphinx by correctly answering her question. The Sphinx takes her own life, and Thebes flourishes.

Related questions

How did Oedipus bring the city of Thebes fortune in the book Oedipus Rex?

by answering the riddle of the sphinx and saving Thebes from the rule of the sphinx.


Who ruins Thebes in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The Sphinx and Oedipus ruin Thebes in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx ruins Thebes with her great appetite for freshly killed Thebans. Oedipus ruins Thebes with his two-time neglect of mandatory cleansing rituals. He spreads pollution by not purifying his murders or that of King Laius.


Thebes is the setting of oedipus rex Thebes is the theme of oedipus rex Thebes is the rival of oedipus rex Thebes is the downfall of oedipus rex?

Thebes is the setting of Oedipus Rex because it is the place where the story begins.


Why do the citizens of Thebes make Oedipus their king in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is because he defeats the Sphinx that the citizens of Thebes make Oedipus their king in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx asks a seemingly unsolvable riddle of all incoming and outgoing Thebes. Those who do not have an answer get killed and eaten by the Sphinx. A reward of marriage with widowed Queen Jocasta and job as king of Thebes is offered to whomever defeats the Sphinx. Oedipus knows the correct answer to the riddle, defeats the Sphinx, and gets the girl and the job.


How does Oedipus save Thebes before he is king in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is by defeating the Sphinx that Oedipus saves Thebes before he becomes king "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx asks a troublesome riddle of all incoming and outgoing Thebans. No answer or one that is incorrect means that the Sphinx gets to indulge her appetite for freshly killed Thebans. But Oedipus puts an end to the Sphinx by correctly answering her question. The Sphinx takes her own life, and Thebes flourishes.


What is Oedipus most famous for in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is for defeating the Sphinx that Oedipus is most famous in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus arrives at Thebes in the city's worst hours. A Sphinx camps outside and asks an impossible riddle upon pain of death. Oedipus figures out the answer and rids Thebes of the city's serial eater.


What are Oedipus' challenges in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The Sphinx, the pestilence and the murder are Oedipus' challenges in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus confronts the challenge of the Sphinx when he first moves to Thebes. He endures the second and third challenges after a number of years as king of Thebes. The challenge of the murder be solved in order to end the challenge of the pestilence.


Why do they call Oedipus the Savior of Thebes in 'Oedipus Rex'?

That he defeats the monstrous Sphinx is the reason why Oedipus is called the savior of Thebes in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx shows up at Thebes after Theban King Laius is murdered while on the way to consult the Delphic oracle. She requires upon pain of death the answer to a riddle whose solution escapes Thebans. But Oedipus figures out the solution, which causes the Sphinx to throw herself over a cliff and which thereby saves Thebes before the Sphinx ends all life in the city.


What is Oedipus famous for in 'Oedipus Rex'?

Defeating the Sphinx is what Oedipus is famous for in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the monstrous Sphinx camps outside the city of Thebes. She kills and eats all Thebans who cannot answer her seemingly unanswerable riddle. But Oedipus knows the answer and beats the Sphinx at her own game.


Who relieves Thebes of taxation by the Sphinx in 'Oedipus Rex'?

It is Oedipus who relieves Thebes of the Sphinx in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, the Sphinx imposes a riddle and a tax on all Thebes. She particularly likes to ask a riddle to which incoming and outgoing Thebans must respond upon pain of death. Thebans remain clueless and so the Sphinx gets to feed her limitless appetite for freshly killed Thebans.


Who is terrorizing Thebes when Oedipus arrives in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The Sphinx is terrorizing Thebes when Oedipus arrives in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).Specifically, Oedipus arrives in Thebes to find a monstrous Sphinx camped outside the city's entrance. She asks a riddle whose answer she demands upon pain of death. No one knows what the correct response can be. Thebans therefore fear having to go back and forth about their daily business around Thebes.


Why does the Sphinx destroy Thebes in 'Oedipus Rex'?

The Sphinx does not destroy the city of Thebes in "Oedipus Rex."Specifically, the monster sets up camp outside the city and forces everyone coming and going to answer a seemingly unanswerable riddle. Those who have no answer are killed by her. But Oedipus comes along and solves the riddle before the Sphinx can devour every last Theban or destroy the city.