Oedipus Search For Justice

Works of literature frequently concentrate on the conflict between evil and justice. But inside this more broad struggle, the writer constantly showcases a subject's own individual search for justice. Most of the time, justice is defined as looking for the truth. However, authors are no strangers to adding complexity and depth as well as hidden (or noticeable) costs to finding the truth. Furthermore, the writer can play with a character’s motivation to search for justice. In the story of Oedipus Rex, the hunt for justice is a natural characteristic of both the characters as well as the significance of the story. In the story, the characters are at conflict with or chasing the perceived path that leads to justice, and this reveals the significance …show more content…
In his search for the truth, Oedipus is relentless. Oedipus rages against Creon, stating “Trouble? Your king was murdered - royal blood!” (145) and takes up the burden to “bring [the murder] all to light” (150). Oedipus’s words and incredulity at the knowledge that Laius was killed without a thorough investigation foreshadow his relentless search for the truth. Demonstrating the importance of the truth to Oedipus, Oedipus’s investigation trumps Tiresias’s warnings. Tiresias exclaims “You did, you forced me, twisted it out of me” (407) when Oedipus asks him who put him up to this accusation. Furthermore, Oedipus’s subsequent actions demonstrate his understanding of justice to be the truth. The shepherd and the messenger are only brought to Oedipus’s attention because of Oedipus’s relentless search for the truth. Even when he arrives, the shepherd is reluctant to tell Oedipus the entire story, instead opting to dance around the truth. However, Oedipus’s inquisition penetrates this thin veil, and characterizes his definition of justice. Thus Oedipus understands justice as the ultimate truth, characterizing his search for