Oedipus Rex, also known as Oedipus the King, is a play authored by Sophocles. It was first performed in 429 BC in Athens, Greece (Knox 133). The play is the second of several Sophocles’ plays, and has been regarded as an excellent piece by many scholars (Belfiore 176). This report will highlight about the author, discuss the setting of, and the theme of fate in the play, before giving personal impression about the play.
The play is about Oedipus the king. He is respected by his people, but falls disgracefully from power. Its unravels an oracle such that Oedipus kills his father and marries his mother unknowingly. The plan to kill Oedipus takes a twist when his mother and the servant refuses to kill him, allowing the opportunity to live and later to fulfill the oracles. The life of Oedipus is saved the second time when a shepherd finds him and hands him over to King of Corinth for adoption. Oedipus grows without knowing his biological parents. He learns of the oracle and wishes to avert it only to allow fate take its course. Oedipus meets his father and kills him while escaping from that fate, and later marries his mother. He also saves the people by solving a riddle and fulfills the oracle that the murderer of King Loius would be revealed.
Sophocles was among the Greek’s great playwrights (Belfiore 176). He was born in 495 B.C near the town of Athens and received the best education in his time. He majored in arts. He was influential and many people liked him. His career had began at an early age when he participated at a competition and took the first prize. This is when he used his skills to include characters in a play by reducing its chorus. Sophocles wrote over one hundred and twenty plays but only seven have been successful. These are Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex), Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone, The Women of Trachis, Electra, Ajax and Philoctetes.
The setting of the play is in Thebes city, which is portrayed as a city in crisis; the city is struck by a plague (Sophocles 22-32). The palace of Oedipus as well as the altar of Zeus features in much of the play. In general, this setting characterizes the whole of Oedepus (Sophocles 51).
Fate is a main theme in Oedipus Rex, and is plainly indicated in the play. The characters believes in fate. The mother of Oedipus, Queen Jocasta, believes in the fate that Oedipus would kill King Lauis (Sophocles 711-714). Oedipus also believes in the same fate and runs away from his guardians to avoid killing them (Sophocles 791-793). Thus, Sophocles allows the characters to reveal the theme of fate to the reader. Fate is also largely demonstrated by the oracles in the play.
The theme of fate is demonstrate in the unavoidability of the oracles. The prophecy that Oedipus would commit adultery with his mother and murder his own father comes true, even when Oedipus’ parents plans to alter it. When Oedipus reveals about the oracle, he escapes from Corinth to avoid fulfilling it, but this action leads him closer to what he was destined to do. First he unknowingly meets his biological father and kills him, and later marries his own mother without knowing their real relationship.Therefore, his attempts to avoid a prophecy is what makes the prophecy come true.
Sophocles clearly indicates the theme of fate when he makes the oracles unconditional. Oedipus is predestined to kill his father and marry his mother, and that happens against Oedipus’ will. Although the events that surround Oedipus are not predetermined, it is shown that they lead him to fulfill the oracles. Oedipus does not make the choices to kill his father, marry his mother and reveal that he murdered the King, but the force of fate direct him to actions that lead him to do so.
My impression of Oedipus Rex is that it is an excellent play that shows the great masterly art by Sophocles. The author attempts to bring out important themes is successful. He uses figurative writing and other writing styles to emphasize on motifs and themes. For instance, Oedipus blindness is figurative, and Jocasta repeatedly talks about the oracle, which emphasizes that it is unconditional.
The play is also captivating, but wrongfully instills a feeling of pity to the reader. One would sympathize with Oedipus because it is apparent that he was manipulated by higher forces in order to end up to his resentful state. However, several of Oedipus actions and events were not predestined and he could have chosen a different paths to take.
There is less emphases on moral values in the play. Wrongful actions of people are easily justified by oracles and fate. Nonetheless, the play indicates that the action of killing is resentful and it is worth to make things right.
Works Cited
Belfiore, Elizabeth. Tragic Pleasures: Aristotle on Plot and Emotion. Princeton, p. 176. 1992.
Knox, Bernard. The Date of the Oedipus Tyrannus of Sophocles,” The American Journal of Philology, Vol. 77, No. 2, Pp. 133-14. 1956.
Sophocles. Oedipus the King. New York: Hayes Barton Press. 1946.