Oedipus the King

Introduction

Sophocles wrote Oedipus during the fifth century B.C. during an era when both reality and mythological tales impacted the lives of those who lived in that time. Sophocles had the ability to incorporate events such as the plague in Athens and the power and fear invoked by the gods into a story that still captivates readers. This play is also controversial because it was written before the chronicled birth of Christianity. Christianity and conflicts with the ideas were already established by concepts adopted by people who believe in multiple gods and prophesies rather than the one God belief that is still in place today.

Analysis

The birth and crucifixion of Christ are key elements to the rise of Christianity; however, the birth of Oedipus brings forth the beginning of a series of sacrifices that fulfill the royal deviance and restitution ideologies, make him a figure comparable to that of Christ, and turning Oedipus into a tragic hero. It was prophesized by Tireseias that Oedipus would murder his father and marry his mother. His parents abandoned him and he was raised by a different family. When Oedipus was older and learned of the prophecy he left his family to keep from hurting them (www.theatrehistory.com).

The sacrifice of Oedipus as a political figure is confirmation that oracles provide punishment to all until divine justice prevails. The motifs manifested are: breach of the sacred, divine punishment in the form of plague or famine, prophetic interpretation, restitution, and blood sacrifice. This is true when a king is the culpable deviant (www.kchanson.com). The oracle does not predict how Oedipus would solve the riddle of the Sphinx and then come to power, but it comes true as he slays his father during his travels and weds his mother by chance. As punishment from the gods, all must suffer from a plague by their hand until Oedipus learns of his fate from the prophet, Tireseias (male_initiation.net). In an effort to discover the murderer, Oedipus sends for the blind seer, Tiresias. Under protest the prophet names Oedipus himself as the criminal. Oedipus, outraged at the accusation, denounces it as a plot of Creon to gain the throne (Fort). The people of Thebes will look at him more honorably as he sacrifices himself in order to save them and also his soul from the fatal oracle looming over him. Sacrifice as form of self-denial as penance (out of guilt) or used to be pleasing to Gods, ancestors, impress lovers, ect.; must exist as a very basic motivation (www.mala.bc.ca).

Oedipus and Christ both are unaware of their parents' identity and unwitting heirs to a throne. There are differences in the manner in which both use their power; however, both lead their people while facing the issues of poverty, sickness, and famine. Pitiable children, oh I know you the yearnings that have brought you. Yes, I know you are sick; there is not one of you as sick as I. For your affliction comes to each alone, for him ...