Oedipus Rex

The founder and first king of Thebes is the Cadmus that Theban King Oedipus identifies as the line from whom generations of Thebans are living. Cadmus is the princely son of King Agenor and Queen Telephassa in Tyre, Phoenicia.

On his father's side, Cadmus is the grandson of Poseidon the sea god and Libya. He's the great grandson of Cronus and Rhea. He's the great great grandson of the world's first couple, son Saturn and mother Gaia.

On his mother's side, Cadmus is the grandson of the siblings Inarchus and Nilus. He's the great grandson of Oceanus and Tethys. His great grandparents on his mother's side are the siblings of his great grandparents on his father's side. So he's the great great grandson of the world's first couple, by way of both parents.

Additionally, Cadmus is the husband of Queen Harmonia. Their marriage is considered the world's first wedding celebration. The couple are the parents of subsequent Theban King Polydorus, from whom Oedipus is the direct descendant. They also are the parents of Princess Agave, from whom the siblings Theban King Creon and Theban Queen Jocasta are the direct descendants.

Finally, Cadmus is the direct ancestor of the royal rulers of Sparta. It's through the line of descent from Polydorus to Oedipus that this happens. Specifically, it's Oedipus' son Polyneices whose great great great grandchildren Eurysthenes and Procles are the ancestors of different royal dynasties within Sparta.

One source of conflict in 'Oedipus Rex' is Theban King Oedipus' understanding that he's the son of Corinthian King Polybus and Corinthian Queen Merope. In fact, he's the son of slain Theban King Laius and Theban Queen Jocasta.

Another source of conflict is Oedipus' decreebanishing the murderer of his royal predecessor. In fact, Oedipus issues the decree before he realizes that he's the murderer. The decree therefore results in his own banishment.

Nobility refers to birth and/or character. A noble birth refers to an individual who is born into a family of high social rank. A noble character refers to an individual who is wealthy and known for behavior and speech that are appropriate to the occasion; and who holds a high social position.

Theban King Oedipus fits the bill on both counts. He is born into one family of the highest social rank and is raised by another. Specifically, he is the biological son of Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta. He becomes the adopted/foster son of Corinthian monarchs Polybus and Merope. In both cases, he stands to inherit the throne and therefore benefits from elite education, experiences and training.

Oedipus also shows a noble character. As king, he holds a high social position and is powerful and wealthy. Additionally, the accidents of birth and the deliberateness of a royal upbringing combine to place him on the cutting edge of appropriate behavior and speech. Thus, the priest describes Oedipus as "first of men" and "peerless king."

Seeking and being granted an audience with Oedipus is what the priest does in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Thebes is reeling from a pestilence that causes children to die before or shortly after birth, crops to fail and livestock to ail. A group of suppliants gather in front of the main entrance to the Theban royal palace. They are accompanied by the priest of Zeus, who requests and receives an audience with Theban King Oedipus regarding how to end the pestilence before it ends all life in Thebes.

Jocasta is the gender reversal role in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta does not engage in the emotional outbursts of others of the dramatist's female characters. She keeps tight control over her passions and uses few words. She realizes the albeit unknowing wrongs that she does. She stoically takes responsibility without excuse and by hanging herself. In contrast, King Oedipus will not stop talking and explaining himself over and over again.

The foremost character traits that Sophocles [496 B.C.E.* - 406 B.C.E.] shows in 'Oedipus Rex' are his competitiveness and his perfectionism. During his lifetime, he participated in 30 literary competitions. He was competitive, and placed first in 24 competitions. In each of the remaining six, he placed a close second.

Plays about Thebes and Troy tended to sit well with theater going audiences in ancient Greece. Specifically, Aeschylus [c. 525/524 B.C.E. - 456/455 B.C.E.] had received strong career boosts through his Theban themed plays on the Oedipus myth. So Sophocles knew a winning story when he saw it.

And Sophocles played to win. He was the son of Sophillus, a highly successful armor manufacturer. So Sophocles was used to competition, and to expecting and having the best and the most expensive of things.

Because of that competitiveness, Sophocles was a perfectionist. He had the best education and training that all of his family's substantial wealth could provide. So he had the means to do his best, and he did so. As with the competitiveness, perhaps the perfectionism never was seen more clearly than in his writing. In fact, 'Oedipus Rex' is considered a literary classic as the perfect example of a tragedy and as the perfect use of dramatic irony.

The play 'Oedipus Rex' begins with Theban King Oedipus coming outside his palace to speak with a priest and congregated Thebans. Oedipus' people are concerned about the unabated losses and suffering from a stubborn plague that reduces their numbers, their livestock, and their harvests. Until the concluding scene, the rest of the play in many ways works as a flashback on Oedipus' life. What readers and viewers find out in the rest of the play is what Oedipus does with his life before he becomes king.

In essence, Oedipus is the son of Theban King Laius and Theban Queen Jocasta. But he's left on a hillside as the prey of the weather, the dogs, and the birds. Such a quick end to a three day old baby nevertheless is averted.

Through the help of two shepherds, Oedipus ends up in Corinth as the adopted son of King Polybus and Queen Merope. The couple need a male heir, Oedipus fits the bill, and the truth of the adoption is kept from many, especially Oedipus. But the rumored adoption comes to the attention to Oedipus, who decides to find out the truth from the Delphic Oracle. But the Oracle warns Oedipus of his fate as the killer of his own father and the husband of his own mother.

Oedipus decides not to return to Corinth, which he thinks is the home of his true parents. Outside of Delphos, he ends up in a street brawl with a surly stranger over a right-of-way. In self defense, Oedipus kills the stranger, who actually is Theban King Laius en route also to consult the Oracle.

The identity of the victim is unknown to Oedipus, who must choose his escape route from one of three roads. He chooses the road that takes him to Thebes. Outside the city, a Sphinx terrorizes all passersby with a fateful riddle. No one has the answer, so all die. But Oedipus realizes that man is the living being that moves on all fours in the morning, on twos in the afternoon, and on threes in the evening of life.

Oedipus' life is saved, the Sphinx ends up dead at the bottom of the nearby cliff, and Thebans see the end to fear and taxes. In gratitude, they offer Laius' vacated throne and grieving widow to their savior. And so Oedipus takes on his father's familial and royal responsibilities. He has the love of his people, his wife who also is his mother, and his children who also are his half brothers!

But Oedipus is polluted and a polluter. He needs to be cleansed of the murder of his own father and of his sovereign. Father and king killing are serious offenses. And that's not all. He also is the perpetrator of both murder and incest. Both demand ritual cleansing. And so the unclean Oedipus is making his city and his people unclean as well, because his lack of cleanliness opens the door of Thebes to the plague.

That he communicates and gets the job done are Oedipus' positive qualities as a ruler in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus is accessible to his people. He knows what problems his people face and keeps them informed once he becomes involved in the solution. He promises results and dedicates his attention and all resources to that purpose.

Caution is the lesson of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus is reckless. He has quick reflexes, which can be helpful in an emergency. But he does not look beyond the moment. He acts for immediate gratification, such as killing an obnoxious, older version of himself and marrying an older woman by whom he thereby becomes king of Thebes.

That they control his life and death is the reason why Oedipus calls upon particular gods in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus calls upon the sun god Apollo, who is the lord of the Pythia, oracle of Delphi. He also mentions Zeus, the chief god. Additionally, he refers to the god of the Underworld of the afterlife.