Oedipus the King

This week in class we discussed the Greek Tragedy Oedipus Rex. With the plague of Apollo ravaging the city of Thebes, fellow Thebans beseech their King, Oedipus to aid them through the difficult times. Oedipus is determined to cleanse the city of the awful affliction, and soon after the play begins, his brother in law, Creon, returns from the oracles with news about the plague. The oracles say the plague is caused by the unresolved murder of Thebes’ previous King, Laius. This sets up the major plot of the play, Oedipus’ quest to find the murderer of King Laius. One theme seen through the play and most of Greek Tragedy in general, is the inevitability of fate. Oedipus is predicated by the oracles to kill his father and marry his mother, and to prevent this, his parents send him off to be killed. But, in fact, he isn’t killed, and in fact, ends up killing his father, and marrying his mother. I enjoyed reading this play and it was interesting to read on and see how this impracticable prophecy unfolded.