Play Oedipus by Sophocles is a valuable piece of literature for modern students to read. Sophocles raised many themes which are highly relevant to modern society. He wrote about the youth and age, about mental blindness, predestination, and destiny, and the role played by every person in the life of the community.
The main theme of the play is light and darkness. Oedipus, the key characteristic of the play, is physically blind and lives in complete darkness. However, he manages to have a perfect vision of his life. In addition, Sophocles shows that people can be dark inside. Oedipus does not know his own origins and commits a murder. Probably, though the character of the king, Sophocles wants to portray a dark side of society. This theme is relevant for any time and any society. Just like hundreds of years ago, today there are dark, corrupted people as well as good citizens who strive to help others.
In addition, Sophocles delivers a powerful message through his play: every person should know his origins. In the play, Oedipus sought his own origins because he understands the importance of knowing his own family. Ironically, Oedipus finds out that he is the son of his own wife. The play is important for modern students to read because it uncovers the social problems. From one side, it is necessary to know family ties. On the other side, the quest may result in unexpected discovery. The mere fact that Oedipus’ wife is also his mother reveals that moral degradation is part of any society. Sophocles shows the dark sides of human nature with the aim to give a moral lesson to his readers.
Moreover, the play presents the aging of a man. The readers witness the aging of Oedipus as he goes from innocent to a blinded old man led by his children. As Oedipus becomes older, he realizes his own faults. He explores his weaknesses to realize a complete personal failure. Even though he is a king, he does not feel even like a man in the first place. Sophocles skillfully leads a reader to the idea that life is short and every moment should be valued. People should think about their actions in order not to regret about useless life.
The theme of destiny is also important in the play Oedipus. From the first lines of the story, a reader knows that the king is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. As the result, Oedipus decides to leave the city without expecting to meet and kill his real father. When he arrives at Thebes, he marries his mother without realizing it. Sophocles argues that destiny cannot be avoided or escaped. People should accept their destinies as any attempt to change will result in failure. Nevertheless, it does not mean that people should be passive receivers of their fate.
In summary, Oedipus is a masterpiece of the written word. Sophocles creates an appealing story about the complicated life of ordinary people. He talks about themes that have no time boundaries. Similar to Shakespeare, Sophocles writes about destiny, self-exploration, and the quest for personal identity. Modern students should be encouraged to read the play Oedipus because it includes philosophical insights into eternal problems. The play was written many hundreds of years ago but it is still very relevant to modern societies.