Sophocles' Oedipus the King

Throughout Sophocles’ Oedipus The King, the protagonist is at the mercy of the gods, for his fate is completely predetermined despite his efforts to dodge the disastrous prophecy. This leads many to question who is ultimately responsible for Oedipus’ downfall, was it him on his own freewill or in-fact his inability to escape the gods’ plan for him? Although Oedipus did curse himself, and enforced physical pain upon himself, how can one fault a righteous man who was unaware of his wrongdoings, and only set forth in Thebes to escape his prophecy? Unfortunately, for Oedipus, he happened to be a man whose fame and achievement were achieved on his own, but his rapid fall was pre-determined by the great Greek gods.

One evening, after a usual banquet at the kingdom in Corinth, a man who had consumed much wine and appeared drunk told Oedipus that he was not the true son of Polybus. Annoyed by this though, Oedipus questioned his “parents” who chose to infuriate the drunk rather then answer the question, which led Oedipus to leave Corinth in search of the oracle Apollo at Delphi for answers, however he would only share with Oedipus his future that he would kill his father and “to lie with my mother and beget children.” After hearing of his so called future, Oedipus decided that he would not take even the slightest risk of killing his beloved father Polybus and thus he ran away as far from Corinth as he could in order to prevent this terrible future of taking place. Unknowingly, Oedipus had arrived to Thebes where his true parents were in power, and that here he would fulfill the prophecy he so detested.

After using his vast knowledge in defeating the Sphinx, king Oedipus and his beloved subjects now face the great plague, which has been cast upon Thebes. In spite of this tragedy Sophocles portrays Oedipus as a respectable father figure who has enormous love for his subjects, which he treats them as his own children. Oedipus describes to his children his sorrow, that he mourns and sheds many tears for the city, and “but sick though you may be, there is not one of you as sick as I.” As Oedipus tells this to his subjects, he shows to the audience that he is a passionate and harmless man who wishes to do nothing but good for the city and the people of Thebes that he loves.