The Greeks referred to myths for the source of plots of their plays, rather than to invent plots of their own or to dramatize real life events.
Oedipus, born to Laius and Jocasta, the king and queen of Thebes, is destined to “kill his father and mate with his mother.” King Laius, pierces the foot of the baby born to him and leaves him to die on a hill top. Rescued by a herdsman, the baby is given to and brought up by King Polybus of Corinth. Years later, Oedipus learns that the king is not his biological father, and approaches the oracle and hears the curse pronounced on him. Out of fear, he flees Corinth to Thebe, and on his way kills a brave warrior when they shower insults on each other. Before reaching Thebes, he encounters the sphinx who gives him a riddle to answer. Being the only person to solve the riddle and thereby rescuing Thebe from a plague caused by the sphinx, the people crown him their king and give the queen in hand to him.
Years later, a plague befalls the kingdom. At the request of a priest to “Raise up our city, save it and raise it up” as “livestock and women are sterile, unable to have children,” Oedipus promises to seek the truth behind the suffering. (Summary and Analysis of Prologue, Parode and First Episode (1-462)). He sends Creon, Jocasta’s brother to the oracle at Delphi and learns that he has to “drive out pollution….Grown ingrained within the land” – and this pollution is a man: the murderer of Laius. (Summary and Analysis of Prologue, Parode and First Episode (1-462)). Oedipus vows to save his country and approaches Tiresias, who warns him that his quest for truth would land him in trouble as Oedipus is himself responsible for the malady.
Unable to put up with the words of the Seer, Oedipus seeks the truth. He learns that the person whom he had murdered long before was his father. Jocasta realizes the truth and commits suicide by hanging herself. Oedipus blinds himself with the brooches on Jocasta’s dress and leaves the kingdom with his daughter Antigone.
The people of Thebe live accursed lives. Oedipus is Jocasta’s son and husband, by fate. It is definitely not his fault for marrying his mother as he is innocent. Ironically, fearing such a fate he flees the land only to end up killing his father, rather unwittingly. All the characters suffer crisis in their lives as each incident is related to the other in the story. One incident leads to the other which is also the cause for calamity. The people of Thebe have to face one misery after the other which also influences the lives of the royal family. Incidentally, Oedipus who was the cause of bringing prosperity to Thebe after answering the question by the sphinx is himself responsible for incurring a plague on the country for murdering the former king, Laius. On the one hand Oedipus is the savior, on the other he is the cause for the country’s ill fate. Later, his sons fight for the kingdom and perish only to hand it over to their uncle Creon.
Works Cited
Summary and Analysis of Prologue, Parode and First Episode (1-462). Grade Saver. 1999-2008. Web.