Irony of “Oedipus the King”
In our world today, fate and free will remains the biggest mystery of all; is everything we do controlled or do we have the freedom of choice? In the story “Oedipus the King” by Sophocles, the author uses the idea of fate and free will to explain the struggle of Oedipus’s life. Fate and free will is explained as; fate is controlled by an outside supernatural force, and there is no way of controlling it. Free will is when each of us is responsible and controls all aspects of our own life. The author of “Oedipus the King” uses ironic devices to convey a tragic attitude toward the struggle of fate and free will. The city of Thebes has been cursed by a plague caused by an unclean being that murdered Laius. While in despair, Oedipus cursed the murderer into exile. “I curse that murderer; if he is alone I curse him”(Sophocles, line 263). The murderer of King Laius is Oedipus, so Oedipus is cursing himself into exile. The irony of that statement is that Oedipus is cursing himself and does not know it. Then Oedipus continues the speech and he says that, “I will fight for him like I would fight for my father. My search will never end until I take in chains the murderer of Laius”(Lines 282-285). Laius . . .
Jocasta tells Oedipus that prophets are not correct all the time. Oedipus goes on to ask Jocasta multiple questions about who, what when and where this all happened. All of this pain and suffering was brought on by the stubbornness of Oedipus. In the example Oedipus is just asking to be accused of the crime, Teiresias has already warned him he doesn’t need to know the truth. Oedipus has just reacted to what Jocasta, his wife/mother, has told him. Every question showed more and more evidence that Oedipus had been the murderer of Laius. Oedipus demands that Teiresias tell him the truth. There was an oracle told to Oedipus when he was younger that he would kill his father and wed his mother. Teiresias, an old and blind prophet, is summoned to find the person who is unclean. At that point Oedipus was scared because of the oracle told to him when he was younger. The town of Thebes is in suspense as the messenger, the Shepard, and Oedipus speak. Teiresias tells Oedipus that he is the unclean person that is causing the city so much pain. The Queen could not live with the thought that she had married and boar children with her own son, so she took her life. These examples of irony are also examples of fate and free will. Once again Oedipus has caused his own punishment, by not listening to Jocasta.
Common topics in this essay:
Laius Oedipuss, Laiusline1999 Oedipus, Laius Oedipus, Oedipus King, Shepard Creon, Laius Apollo, Creon Oedipus, King Sophocles, Shepard Oedipus, Oedipus Oedipus, fate free, oedipus king, ironic oedipus, kill father, father marry mother, oedipus reacted, messenger shepard, killed laius, oedipus truth, father marry, kill father marry, oedipus cursing, |
Acceptance Essays
