Oedipus The King Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Oedipus The King?

Oedipus The King is a timeless tragedy written by the ancient Greek playwright, Sophocles. It tells the story of Oedipus, a man cursed with the horrific prophecy to one day kill his own father and marry his mother. He attempts to escape his fate only to find himself caught up in a web of lies and deceit that eventually leads him to do what he was fated to do.The play begins with a plague ravaging Thebes. King Oedipus sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to seek advice from the Delphic Oracle on how to lift the curse from their city. When Creon returns with news that it is Oedipus himself who has brought forth this plague upon them, Oedipus sets out on a quest for truth and justice by attempting to solve the murder of Laius, former king of Thebes. In doing so he soon discovers that he is in fact Laius’s killer and son as well as Jocasta’s husband and sonthe very prophecy he sought so desperately hard not to fulfill. Throughout this tragedy we see how our protagonist fights against fate through self-will only for it all eventually fall upon him anyway as predetermined by destiny. We are also shown how pride can be detrimental as it blinds us from seeing truth right before our eyes until it is too late. This tragic tale serves as an example for us all about how we should accept our lot in life rather than trying vainly against inevitable forces beyond our control or understanding if we wish true peace of mind; something which Oedipus was never granted no matter how hard he tried or wished otherwise.