3 November 2010

Cursed to a Life of Misery

During Oedipus’ journey, he lives at peace until he realizes the fulfillment of a prophecy.  At birth, the Oracle at Delphi saw that he would marry his mother and kill his father in the future.  Not wanting the prophecy to be fulfilled, his parents send him into the wilderness to die, which miraculously leads to the realization of the prophecy his parents tried desperately to avoid.  Written by Sophocles and translated by Robert Fagles, Oedipus Rex is the catastrophic tale of Oedipus’ life.  The story begins with Oedipus in self-exile from Corinth, the only way he saw it possible to avoid killing Polybos, whom he thought to be his father.  Oedipus later becomes king, but the story ends with his demise.  Oedipus is exemplified as a tragic hero because his actions affect nations, he has a fatal flaw, and he meets a terrible end.  

Oedipus gets involved in the governments of Corinth and Thebes.  He grows up in Corinth as the son of King Polybos of Corinth.  In Corinth, his self exile disrupts the king causing great pain to his father, King Polybos.   He loves Oedipus like a son even though he is really adopted.  His exile results in the people crowning him King of Thebes because he defeated the Sphinx, saving the city.  Creon, in recognition of Oedipus’ profound effect on Thebes, makes a short speech on how Oedipus “rose to power, a man beyond all power…” (Fagles 1678-1680).  The people are very happy with Oedipus ruling them.  However, when plague strikes, Oedipus’ temper shows through as he falsely accuses Creon, and insults Creon telling him, “don’t tell me you’re not the enemy, the traitor” (Fagles 613-614).  As king, Oedipus has a lot of influence on the people of Thebes.  

Although he rules well, King Oedipus has a tragic flaw.  A prophecy, made at his birth, causes his flaw to come out.   The prophecy tells that Oedipus’ destiny will be to cause of his father’s death and marry his mother.  Upon hearing the prophecy he exiles himself from Corinth to avoid killing King Polybos, who Oedipus believes is his father.  Attempting to avoid the prophecy, however, causes it to become true.  Oedipus meets King Laius of Thebes, his real father, at a cross road and kills him, unaware that the man he killed is both a king and his father.  Oedipus becomes King of Thebes and marries the widow-queen who unknowingly is his mother.  Completely oblivious to the knowledge of his true parents, he later seeks King Laius’ killer in order to end a plague inflicted by the gods.  Tiresias offers a suggestion, telling Oedipus, “I say you are the murderer you hunt” (Fagles 413).  Here, Oedipus’ greatest hamartia, refusal of self recognition, shows through. Clueless Oedipus dismisses Tiresias as foolish, threatening him that “[your] obscenity, twice – by god, you’ll pay” (Fagles 414).  His denial of being the murderer of Laius causes both his tragic flaw and tragic end.