Fate in “Oedipus the King” Play by Sophocles

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Discussion
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Sophocles’ Oedipus the King or Oedipus Rex is a tragic ancient Greek play featuring a man who has unknowingly killed his father and married his mother. As the story progresses, the protagonist, Oedipus, evolves from his position as the egocentric king of Thebes and rapidly disintegrates into a victim of his own fate. He begins literally and metaphorically retreating into darkness as he gains insight. This comparison manifests throughout the play as Sophocles utilizes the popular Greek theme of light vs. dark, or sight vs. blindness, to emphasize themes of ignorance, truth, and inevitable punishment where fate or destiny plays the supreme controller of events.

Discussion

Oedipus Rex conveys an “ignorance is bliss” message not unlike that found in Plato’s Allegory of the Cave where the background or canvas of events is fate itself. Prior to the delivery of his prophecy, Oedipus was well-known in Thebes for his clear-sightedness and quick wit in solving the riddle of the Sphinx, which provides a reason for his excessive confidence and admiration from his kingdom. The play begins with the establishment of Oedipus’s hubris as he announces to his people, “Here I am myself— / you all know me, the world knows my fame: / I am Oedipus” (MacGregor & Knox, 159, 7–9). He supports his ignorance further by also declaring, “I would be blind to misery / not to pity my people kneeling at my feet” (MacGregor & Knox, 159, 14-15). This statement adds dramatic irony because, despite the blind prophet Tiresias’s warning about the misery that Oedipus will face if he discovers the truth, Oedipus continues to become more persistent in his search. The prophet is obviously aware of the consequences of knowledge; this is affirmed when he comments, “How terrible—to see the truth / when the truth is only pain to him who sees!” (MacGregor & Knox, 176, 359-360). As Oedipus hears the prophecy and emerges from his ignorance, his pride and vanity disappear. Ultimately, he gouges his eyes out with broaches that belonged to Jacosta, his wife and biological mother. Although he is willing to acknowledge his mistakes completely, his transition to wisdom only causes pain and suffering as he emerges from metaphorical darkness to literal blindness.

The contrast between light and dark is also used to represent truth under the parameters of fate where truth represents an alternate image of the fate of destiny. In Oedipus the King, light embodies truth, but the light is only externally perceived by the eyes, whereas wisdom lies in the darkness of a character’s soul. As Oedipus and Jacosta gain knowledge about the murder of Oedipus’s father, Laius, they arrive at two separate truths: Jacosta recalls that the servant told her that he was killed by strangers, and Oedipus knows that he, himself, was alone when he killed a man in the same location. Though their stories are otherwise strikingly similar, they seem to be choosing to stay in the darkness by accepting the servant’s story as an indisputable account of the event.

Oedipus, however, appears to be more receiving of the truth: “…if he refers to one man, one alone, / clearly the scales come down to me: / I am guilty.” (MacGregor & Knox, 208, 935-937). The chorus also notes the manifestation of truth and light together: “…all-seeing Time has dragged you to the light…” (MacGregor & Knox, 234, 1341). The strongest correlation between the two themes, however, is actually found with the blind prophet and his extensive knowledge from the Gods. Tiresias, despite being physically blind, is much further into the light and can see deeper into the truth than others in the play. Oedipus later approaches a similar status when he discovers the facts of his prophecy and contrasts his inner enlightenment by inflicting physical blindness upon himself. He behaves as if to bring his outer state to a reflection of his prior mental and emotional state of awareness, or as an attempt to return to the darkness in which he was once comfortable. Oedipus’s sight abilities or lack thereof, existed to confirm or deny his acceptance of truth under the guidance of fate.

Conclusion

Sophocles leaves the audience with two choices at the end of the play. They can choose to believe that “ignorance is bliss,” or they can see light in the darkness, discover truth and wisdom, and suffer from knowledge, and in both cases, the author indicates that fate or destiny is the supreme ruler of a human being. Oedipus reveals his knowledge of human suffering and strife and thus, despite surviving the play, becomes a truly traditional Greek tragic hero where fate directs the conclusion of the existence of the characters.

Works Cited

MacGregor, Bernard, & Walker Knox. The three Theban plays. NY: Penguin Classics, 1984.

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Fate in “Oedipus the King” Play by Sophocles

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