The Trial Of Oedipus The King

My client, Oedipus, is being tried for patricide and incest. I believe Oedipus is innocent and so should the jury because Oedipus said that most of his actions aren’t his fault. Oedipus shouldn’t be blamed for killing Laius since he acted in self-defense. Secondly his actions has already been decided by fate. If he has no control of his actions, then he shouldn’t be guilty of them. Lastly, on the charge of incest, Oedipus had no knowledge of who Jocasta was or that she was his mother and so he shouldn’t be blamed for marrying her. On my first point, Oedipus should not be blamed for Laius’ death. Although he did kill him, Oedipus said that he acted in self-defense. Self-defense should not be on the same level as murder. It is natural human behavior to defend yourself if you fear for your life. As Oedipus says, “How could you call me …show more content…
His actions were determined in a prophecy by the gods. His fate and his actions were decided at birth and so Oedipus couldn’t have done anything about it. Oedipus says, “I stand reveled at last—cursed at birth, cursed in marriage, cursed in the lives I cut down with these hands!” (Oedipus the King 1308). If ones actions were controlled by something else, then how would it be their fault if they performed an action against their will? Even though they did the action, it wouldn’t make sense to charge them for something they had no control of. Another reason why Oedipus is innocent is because he knew about the prophecy and actively tried to avoid it. After Jocasta hears the news about Polybus, Jocasta says, “This is the man that Oedipus feared for years, he fled him, not to kill him—now he’s dead” (1037). This shows that Oedipus ran from his parents in order to prevent the prophecy from coming true. Since Oedipus knew that he was going to kill someone and he tried his best to avoid it, then how could he be guilty? His inability to avoid something that was inevitable shouldn’t be blamed on