Oedipus Journey Analysis

Although some may argue Oedipus’ journeys were merely to escape his fate, others would disagree. It would appear in the story Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Oedipus may have spent a great majority of his life in search of truth. There is no denying he stood a man cursed by the Gods from birth; his life forever marred by a heinous crime committed by his biological father. However, he could not easily be persuaded. Oedipus seldom took anything presented to him at face value; he continuously required concrete evidence before making coming to a conclusion. Generally, cowardly men flee from difficult situations when they are incapable of solving them. Oedipus, on the other hand, stood bold and courageous.
He first began his journey to find truth when he was told by a drunken man at a tavern the man and woman whom he called father and mother were not his actual parents. Certain the drunkard had lied, Oedipus sought the counsel of an oracle for validation. Unfortunately, he was not too thrilled with the news the oracle conveyed to him. Rather than telling him the drunkard had lied, the oracle prophesied he is to kill his father and marry his mother and that she would bear his children. …show more content…
They quarreled which led to the man’s and his escorts demised; however, one man escaped. Unbeknownst to Oedipus, Thebes was plagued by murderous sphinx. The sphinx slew anyone who could not answer her riddle correctly. “What goes on four legs at morning, two at noon and three in the evening?” (709) When she approached Oedipus with her riddle, she was surprised that he responded correctly. “Man,” he replied. Taken aback, she immediately self-destructed and reliving the city from her plague. Instantly, Oedipus became a hero and was held as Thebe’s new ruler. Their previous king, Laius vanished. Oedipus not only took the missing king’s position, his fortune, and his kingdom, he married the man’s wife as