Oedipus is Innocent

Because Oedipus knows nothing about the past of Thebes, he is not an assassin. Oedipus committed murder but unknowingly of who King Laius was. Oedipus’ honor was his claim against the murder. Had it been the other way around and Oedipus had lost the battle, King Laius’ alibi would have also been for reasons of honor: for reasons of royalty. Oedipus was royalty and knew it as well did King Laius. The main idea behind Oedipus’ innocence is this “royalty.”

Regardless of either of their class standings a fight occurred and the one to start had been King Laius’ men, or group, the fact that they lost is not the fault of Oedipus. In other words, King Laius and his men wanted to discipline Oedipus for not showing honor towards a king. Yet, in return, Oedipus wanted respect in return from King Laius and his men. They were both rightfully due the same amount of respect yet King Laius’ and his men felt they were entitled to pass first. The first blow came from the driver of King Laius’ chariot. This shows how Oedipus reacted in defense and feared for his life as well as his honor.

Oedipus is an innocent man whose fate was also his destiny. There was no way to stop the prophecy no matter what action was taken. Throughout

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When Oedipus is discovered as the murderer what can he do but follow the judgement he set for the murderer. Oedipus knew there was something that caused Teiresias to say those things.

Oedipus is an innocent man who listened to a prophecy. This is an innocent person and a trustworthy King. He would not have wed his mother nor murdered his father. He was doomed to follow the prophecy at his birth.

As Sheppard mentions of Oedipus’ innocence “the hero, when he stands revealed as the murderer of his father and the husband of his mother, feels himself utterly vile, polluted, and the polluter of all who have dealings with him” (191). As far as he knew he left from Corinth to prevent this humiliation of wedding his mother and killing his father.

Oedipus did not want his fate to be his destiny. That Oedipus reacted as any other would. Why is this? If he is so guilty of this crime and he is the “murderer that he seeks” then why does he go on with the search? (10). The murderer “will be banished from the land. Had he been blind to that prophecy he would have remained in Corinth and ruled as a true ruler.

Approximate Word count = 1538
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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