Oedipus Rex

The sole survivor of the fatal attack on Laius and his escort is the person that Oedipus asks to have brought to him at the end of Episode 2 in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban Queen Jocasta's most trusted servant is the only person to survive the attack that leaves Theban King Creon and four members of his escort party dead. Upon his return to the palace, the servant requests a transfer back to shepherding in the hills outside Thebes. That he leaves the palace premises once Oedipus becomes King is the reason that the servant needs to be sent for when needed.

That he is trying to take away his job and possibly his life is the suspicion that Oedipus begins to harbor against Creon in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Oedipus heads an investigation into the unsolved murder of his royal predecessor, King Laius. He looks for help from his royal advisor, but Teiresias the blind prophet charges that Oedipus is Laius' killer. This turn of events shocks Oedipus, who does not remember ever meeting Laius. Because such a charge is treasonous and can cost him his job if not his life as well, Oedipus thinks that Creon, his brother-in-law and royal colleague, must be behind the presumed lies since he stands the most to gain with Oedipus' overthrow.

The Corinthian messenger is the most likable character in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, the Corinthian messenger goes about his job in a conscientious but compassionate way. He informs Theban monarchs Oedipus and Jocasta about the death of Corinthian King Polybus. He makes an effort to help Oedipus overcome fears of an unenviable prophecy coming true. He responds to all of Oedipus' questions about his birth and early life.

In Oedipus Rex, the most commonly discussed theme is sight and blindness. Blindness is described as misunderstanding where Oedipus is unwilling to accept his fate foretold by the prophets because of his arrogance and pride called hubris. He does not consider he himself could be the deceased King Laius' murderer because he had never met him in person. He doesn't believe Tiresias, the seer, because he prudently thinks that it is impossible to be Laius' son when his parents exist in Corinth. Sight is when he finally uncovers the truth of his origin and the mystery of the murder. He recalls the prophecy when he heard as a child, about killing his father, marrying his mother and having children with her. Then he learns that his parents in Corinth were not his real parents, and the passenger he killed at a crossroad was King Laius, his real father.

This tragic play is also ironic because he could physically see in the beginning but is intellectually blind of ignorance. In the end he blinds himself physically because he does not want to see his disgusting world the gods had laid before him, but is able to see and understand the reality.

The chorus calls upon Athena first, Artemis second, and Zeus third. Athena is the goddess of wisdom. Artemis is the goddess of the hunt. And Zeus is the king of all of the gods.

Apollo the sun god is mentioned, as is the wine god Bacchus. Bacchus' aid humorously is requested against any possible interference in Theban affairs by the war god Ares. The chorus specifically asks Bacchus to get any soldiers too drunk to be able to carry out the wishes of their divine master.

That no character and no event goes unrelated to Oedipus' ultimate downfall is a reason why "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.) is considered as the most perfect tragic play.

Specifically, the people and places link to ultimately shake Theban King Oedipus from his illusion of personal happiness and professional success. For example, he learns that nothing that he thinks true of himself and his parentage is true. Likewise, he discovers that his panic-stricken choices of free will serve to make all the more inevitable his prophesied fate as the killer of his own father, the husband of his own mother, and the half-sibling of his own children.

It is in hearing about his true parentage that Oedipus realizes his flaw in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, his panic-stricken decision making is Theban King Oedipus' flaw. It is evidenced when he decides to run away instead of confronting his presumed parents about his true parentage and his prophesied fate. It is expressed when he decides to respond with lethal force to a bullying older version of himself at the intersection of the fateful Delphi-Daulia crossroads in Phocis. It is found when he decides to marry a beautiful woman old enough to be his mother. It is revealed when he receives the news that Queen Jocasta is his biological mother. It is both validated and atoned for when he decides to blind himself for his murderous crimes and his immoral behavior.

Like father like daughter, Theban King Oedipus and Theban Princess Antigone share the tragic flaws of pride and passion. Their proud and passionate approaches to life show up in their single minded choices of courses of action according to their reactions to the moment. Those choices and those actions become their own guarantees of the very fates Oedipus and Antigone claim to want to avoid.

Specifically, Oedipus thinks that he can escape the unenviable fate of killing his father and sovereign, and marrying his mother. But in running away, he angrily kills a man who's old enough to be his father and whom he resembles in attitude, appearance and actions. He then marries a woman who's old enough to be his mother and whom he may resemble in some feature or quirk of character or personality.

Similarly, Antigone decides to honor the gods and her family instead of obeying society's laws of the moment. She thinks she can bury a treacherous brother and behave publicly in disrespectful ways to her uncle and future father-in-law, Theban King Creon. Admittedly, Creon has a difficult personality. But Antigone makes no attempt to work things out for her well being or for anyone's happiness. In fact, her own actions and words make sure that the corpses of those whom she defends remain disrespected and exposed to the cruel workings of weather and wildlife.

Self-identity is the significance of "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Theban King Creon does not have an accurate self-image. With few exceptions, many of the people with whom he deals in his adult life are mistaken in what they think to be true about him. These mistakes in the images held by oneself and by others tragically affect Oedipus' actions, and the similarly tragic experiences may come chillingly true regarding anyone else in a similar case of mistaken identity.

Limitations may refer to drawbacks in the crafting of the play or its performance. The main such limitation in regard to 'Oedipus Rex' is the long opening scene. The opening scene is supposed to serve as an introduction. But it takes up the space and the time of something much longer.

It in fact is a bit overwhelming for the audience's understanding, and in terms of theater logistics, that the play begins with so many people involved in so much discussion at one time.

Also, it's important in a Greek tragedy for the chorus to show up and clue in readers and viewers. That doesn't happen right away in 'Oedipus Rex'.

That he will kill his father and marry his mother is Oedipus' fate in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles (495 B.C.E. - 405 B.C.E.).

Specifically, Oedipus' fate is revealed two times. The first time is to his parents, Theban monarchs Laius and Jocasta, who hear that he will kill his father. The second time is to Oedipus, who learns his fate is to kill his father and marry his mother.

The Sphinx is significant to 'Oedipus Rex' as the meansby which subsequent Theban King Oedipus gets into Thebes. The Sphinx guards all entries to and exits from the city. No one goes anywhere without answering the Sphinx's riddle. Until Oedipus, no one has the answer. No answer, no life is the Sphinx's motto.

But Oedipus knows that man is the living being that walks on fours in the morning, on twos in the afternoon, and on threes in the evening of life. So the Sphinx ends up dead at the bottom of the nearby cliff. At the same time, the people of Thebes are delivered from fear and taxes.

With entry into Thebes, Oedipus is a hero. He's offered the Theban throne and Thebes' widowed queen Jocasta. These two consequences of Oedipus' entry into the city are necessary to the second fulfilling of his direly predicted fate. Specifically, it was predicted that he'd kill his own father and marry his own mother. He already killed an older man in a street brawl over a right-of-way. Unbeknownst to Oedipus, the stranger was his father, now deceased Theban King Laius. To seal his fate, Oedipus has to marry his own mother, who is Laius' grieving widow Jocasta.