The Tragic Story of Oedipus the King
King Oedipus ' story began with a plot by his parents to murder him as a baby based on a horrible prophecy. The prophecy stated Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. Distraught by this news, Oedipus parents gave him to a herdsman to kill him. They pushed a nail through his ankles and left him for dead. This awful event set into motion a life of tragic events.
After the failed attempt on his life, Oedipus was found by a peasant of a royal family. He took the baby to his king who happily adopted him because his wife was unable to bear children. The couple raised Oedipus as if he was born into the family. Years later as he grew into a young man, his parents had a big feast. During the feast, …show more content…
A cunning and smart priest begged Oedipus to find a solution to their problem. King Oedipus sent a representative to see the Oracle, to find out what will appease the gods and end the plague. The representative returned and informed Oedipus that the murder of the previous king must be punished before the city can be cleansed. Oedipus made a promise to kill or exile the guilty person. He enlisted help from a blind prophet, but he refused to tell King Oedipus the truth that angered him. Tiresias revealed it was King Oedipus who was causing the city to be in ruins. However, King Oedipus thought Creon schemed against him to gain control of the kingdom. King Oedipus continued to believe Creon was lying until he heard confirmation from a …show more content…
Oedipus wife told him to leave things alone, but he refused to listen and sent for the man who was to dispose of Laius 's son. The messenger revealed Oedipus was indeed the son of Laius and Jocasta, the child they tried to dispose of to prevent the prophecy from coming to pass. He also discovered this same person happened to be the only one left who witnessed the fight Oedipus had with Laius 's at the crossroads. Oedipus remembers the altercation and his deeds exposed. This information unraveled the kingdom causing his wife/mother to commit suicide. Oedipus took a while to accept these truths, however, after his revelation he gouged out his eyes. Oedipus was sent out of Thebes by Creon to live in exile and cared for by his daughter Antigone. The prophecy now fulfilled; King Oedipus murdered his father and married his
King Oedipus ' story began with a plot by his parents to murder him as a baby based on a horrible prophecy. The prophecy stated Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother. Distraught by this news, Oedipus parents gave him to a herdsman to kill him. They pushed a nail through his ankles and left him for dead. This awful event set into motion a life of tragic events.
After the failed attempt on his life, Oedipus was found by a peasant of a royal family. He took the baby to his king who happily adopted him because his wife was unable to bear children. The couple raised Oedipus as if he was born into the family. Years later as he grew into a young man, his parents had a big feast. During the feast, …show more content…
A cunning and smart priest begged Oedipus to find a solution to their problem. King Oedipus sent a representative to see the Oracle, to find out what will appease the gods and end the plague. The representative returned and informed Oedipus that the murder of the previous king must be punished before the city can be cleansed. Oedipus made a promise to kill or exile the guilty person. He enlisted help from a blind prophet, but he refused to tell King Oedipus the truth that angered him. Tiresias revealed it was King Oedipus who was causing the city to be in ruins. However, King Oedipus thought Creon schemed against him to gain control of the kingdom. King Oedipus continued to believe Creon was lying until he heard confirmation from a …show more content…
Oedipus wife told him to leave things alone, but he refused to listen and sent for the man who was to dispose of Laius 's son. The messenger revealed Oedipus was indeed the son of Laius and Jocasta, the child they tried to dispose of to prevent the prophecy from coming to pass. He also discovered this same person happened to be the only one left who witnessed the fight Oedipus had with Laius 's at the crossroads. Oedipus remembers the altercation and his deeds exposed. This information unraveled the kingdom causing his wife/mother to commit suicide. Oedipus took a while to accept these truths, however, after his revelation he gouged out his eyes. Oedipus was sent out of Thebes by Creon to live in exile and cared for by his daughter Antigone. The prophecy now fulfilled; King Oedipus murdered his father and married his