It has been produced numerous times since Sophocles debut, and is viewed highly above many other playwrights' works in Western Literature (Snodgrass, 125). Sophocles wittingly incorporates a third actor to add great flexibility to the play, and is also credited with painting of the scenery, enlargement of the chorus, and the separation of the tetralogies (Snodgrass, 125). Oedipus the King
amazingly portrays the characteristic of fate which is a key factor in this play. Also, the play features a great role in dramatic irony. Oedipus seems very wise and knowledgeable to save a whole kingdom from the vicious sphinx, yet he is so foolish and ignorant about his own life.
The play begins in ancient Thebes, where the subjects of the city are suffering from plague and sickness.Oedipus, the ruler of Thebes, is uncertain of the cause of the plague, and sends his brother-in-law Creon, to inquire at the oracle of Delphi to the reason of the sickness. Creon returns with news from the oracle that murderer of the former King Laius, who is currently residing in Thebes, must be found and expelled from the city, in order for the plague to pass. Ignorantly, Oedipus makes a vow that the murderer will be punished, as well as banished from Thebes. As the play progresses, a blind prophet named Teiresias sent by Creon, comes before King Oedipus, and tells him that he, the King himself, is the murderer. He also tells Oedipus that he is the son and husband of his wife. Oedipus becomes enraged at this, and curses the old man, as well as accuses Creon of conspiring against him. Oedipus begins explaining a prophecy that he had heard in his youth with Jocasta his wife; the prophecy that he would marry his mother, and slay his father. Jocasta tells Oedipus that Laius also had a prophesy, in which his son would kill him. The two begin to reason that prophecies cannot be true, because Laius's son was thrown out of Thebes, to die as a baby, and that King Laius and all except one of his party members was murdered by thieves at a crossroads. Oedipus remembers a confrontation at a crossroads, and has Jocasta to bring the survivor from Laius's party. The shepherd arrives and informs Oedipus that his father Polybus, king of Corinth, has died recently and that Oedipus is heir to the throne. Elated to hear that his father has died of old age, rather than by his own hand, Oedipus celebrates with Jocasta, although he still worries about having children in his mother's womb. The shepherd assures Oedipus that Polybus and Merope were not his biological parents, and explains that Oedipus was given to him by another herder as an infant with his ankles bound together (the name Oedipus is correspondent to “swollen feet”). Oedipus than inquires further about the second shepherd, when Jocasta urges Oedipus not to ask further questions, and than runs into the palace to hang herself. The second shepherd arrives and tells Oedipus that the baby was of King Laius's blood. Realizing that the prophecies are all true, Oedipus runs into the palace, stabs his eyes out with Jocasta's brooches, and curses himself. He than asks Creon to exile him immediately, because of his great sins of incest and betrayal.
Fate is most evident throughout the play, mainly through both Laius's and Oedipus's actions to escape prophesies given to them. It is also seen through the ignorance and pride of King Oedipus. Laius committed a dishonorable deed, and was cursed for three generations. Upon the birth of his son Oedipus, he received prophesy that his own son would kill him. In attempt to escape the prophecy, Laius discards his son, yet years later his son meets him on a crossroads and kills him being unaware that he is his real father. Evidently no matter what decisions a mortal makes, fate will still remain, although if a mortal makes bad choices, he must suffer consequences. Unknowingly, Oedipus murders his own father while being attacked at a crossroads in Phocis, than proceeds to Thebes and marries his own mother after defeating the Sphinx. The only reason for Oedipus's presence at the crossroads was to leave his adopted parents to escape fate, while unknowingly he fulfilled fate. Secondly on Oedipus's part, he delves too deep into his ignorance, while his pride helps to take him down. He demands that Teiresias explain the prophesy about the murderer, yet Teiresias attempts to avoid it for Oedipus's sake. “Teiresias: When truth cannot help the man who knows, then it brings terror. I knew that truth but I stifled it. I should not have come. Oedipus: What is it? You come as sadly as you despair. Teiresias: Send me away, I tell you! Then it will be easy for you to play the king, than I the priest. Oedipus: This is no reply. You cannot love Thebes - your own country, Teiresias if you hide what the gods tell you. Teiresias: I see your words guiding you on the wrong path; I pray for my own escape. Oedipus: Teiresias! You do not turn away if you know the truth; we all come like slaves to a king with our prayers to you.” (Corrigan, 196). The punishment that Oedipus suffers is initiated of his own free will. If Oedipus had not been insistent upon finding the truth from the oracle, he would have remained ignorant, and the piercing of his eyes, as well as the hanging of his mother/wife would have not occurred. Ignorance was the main factor which destroyed Oedipus. Furthermore, through his pride, and blindness, Oedipus becomes enraged with the prophet when he reveals the truth. Because of the fact that he defeated the Sphinx, and saved his people, he is blinded by his position, and can only visualize himself as a protagonist, rather than a horrible man who has committed dastardly deeds. Once again, it is fate that has put him in this position, because he has no idea that he fulfilled the very prophecy in which he attempted to escape.
