Sacrifice In Sophocles Oedipus At Colon

In Sophocles’ Play, Oedipus at Colonus, the character of Oedipus is commonly seen as a tragic hero, abused by the gods but ultimately redeeming himself in death. However, he functions more as a sacrifice, linking the demise of his homeland to the rise of his adopted city. His actions show the concept of fate and its power over all mortal beings.
When he arrives in Colonus, Oedipus is greeted by a chorus of citizens who, upon learning his name, berate him for coming to their sacred city and defiling it with his dishonor. Oedipus counters the accusations by proclaiming that his actions were completely innocent and he was ignorant of the scandalous situation he had inadvertently gotten himself into. He expresses frustration at the scorn of the …show more content…
At first glance, it seems like a waste, or maybe simply a form of cruel entertainment for the divine creators, but upon closer inspection, Oedipus functions as a sacrifice of sorts. As the prophesy states, “the gods that destroyed [him] will raise [him] up.” (p. 146) All of the pain that he experienced in his mortal life was preparation for his role as a blessing over Athens in the grave. Oedipus represents the epitome of all that is considered immoral, unjust, and unnatural in the eyes of a respectable Greek. He has been broken down into the vilest version of humanity possible, exposing gruesome tendencies and promoting terrible misdeeds in order to ensure that he is banned from his homeland and forced to wander elsewhere for shelter. He lands in Colonus, seemingly by random chance, and after some persuasion, he is granted sanctuary by the Furies. Later, at the time of his death, he gives his blessing to Theseus, the king of Colonus. This seals his fate as the supernatural protector of Colonus, and by extension, Athens. It took the complete breakdown of a foreign man to ensure the prosperity of the city. But it wasn’t this man alone that suffered for the favor of another land. His entire former kingdom was thrust into ruin the moment he set out on his journey …show more content…
All he knows is suffering at the hands of his divine tormentors and, as a mortal, has no means to oppose them. As he proposes, “what’s the point of kudos and acclaim if they only drain away leaving nothing?” (p. 140) Oedipus is unconcerned with the prospect of having his name glorified by future generations. He has been too thoroughly jaded by his torturous life to be enticed by the idea of fame. His only motive for living seems to be to find a place where he can be accepted, or at least tolerated, as Thebes is no longer an option. Throughout the play he seems tired and ready to end his pathetic life. Though he protests superficially, he seems to have accepted his destiny. In the end, he has no