Oedipus Rex: A Series of Bad Decisions
Oedipus Rex, by Sophocles, is a Greek tragedy about a man who is destined by the god, Apollo, to kill his father and marry his mother. But, how accurate is this statement? Does Apollo actually intervene and force any of the tragic events to take place? Or does he simply send a warning to Oedipus' father, Laius, so he can prevent these atrocious actions from taking place? Misjudgments made by a few people, including the rulers of Thebes, as well as the rulers of Corinth, and Oedipus are the true origins for Oedipus' terrible fate. Oedipus' birth mother, Jocasta, states, "It was foretold to Laius [...] / that when his fate arrived he would be killed by a son who would be born to him and me" (Sophocles 716-719). This prophecy is brought to Laius' attention even before the birth of Oedipus and even so, "Laius flaunts Apollo by fathering a child" (Walton 1 of 2). This is the first mistake on behalf of Laius and Jocasta. It clearly comes to their knowledge that it is unwise to procreate, yet they proceed to anyway. Frightened by the terrible happenings to come, the King and Queen of Thebes continue to err. Jocasta gives birth to her child, and Laius, "not three days passed / before he yoked the ball-joints of its feet, / and cast it,
by others' hands, on a trackless mountain" (Sophocles 722-724). If not for some rash decisions and poor judgment, Oedipus the King might have actually lived blissfully as one for a very long time. Both the King and Queen of Thebes are in part guilty for the misfortunes brought upon their family. If not for this secret, Oedipus would have known that he was safe in Corinth since neither Polybus nor Merope are his real parents. What Oedipus finds out instead is that he is destined to kill his father and marry his mother, which drives him away from Corinth and right to his birth parents. After Oedipus goes to the oracle and finds out he's supposed to "be his murderer whose seed I am" (Sophocles 798) he runs away from Corinth without even consulting his parents about it. That is simply leaving more room for a mishap. "The King and Queen of Corinth decline to tell Oedipus of his origins" (Walker 1 of 2) therefore causing a calamity when he finds out about the prophecy. At a party, he is told by a drunken man he is not Polybus' son. Thirdly, Polybus and Merope, who raise Oedipus as their son, are guilty just like those previously mentioned. Still, this is not the only slip-up on behalf of this herdsman. There is no need to hand him over to "others' hands" (Sophocles 724) either. He doesn't stop and think for a second that he shouldn't be killing anyone, much less a man old enough to be his father. This inevitably leads to them having children.
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Acceptance Essays
