Реферат: The Fate Of King Oedipus Essay Research

their son would kill his father. She then tells him how the father was killed by

robbers at a place where three roads meet. Then Oedipus remembers that he

killed a man at a place like this and wonders if it was Laius. He realizes that

this would make him the cursed murderer who is to blame for the plague of

Thebes. Jocasta pleads with Oedipus that a witness said it was thieves, and

that it could not have been him. Oedipus wants this witness to be found so

that his fears can be laid to rest. During this time a messenger arrives to tell

Oedipus that his father, the King of Corinth, has died and that he is now the

King of Corinth as well.

Oedipus is saddened by this event, but tells the messenger that he

cannot return to Corinth while his mother is still alive. Then the messenger

tries to help himself out by telling Oedipus that she was not really his mother,

nor was Polybus his father. He then explains to them that Oedipus was given

to him by a shepherd from Thebes. Jocasta then realizes that Oedipus is truly

her son and rushes away. Meanwhile Oedipus believes that she is

embarrassed that her husband might have been an unwanted child, and

perhaps he was the son of a slave.

At last the Theban shepherd arrives, and this is ironic because turned

out to be the man who was the witness to the murder of Laius. The shepherd

is reluctant to tell Oedipus anything. Not until after a threat of torture does he

tell Oedipus that the baby was given to him by Jocasta to be killed, and that

he passed it on to the Corinthian out of pity. Oedipus now knowing the truth

rushes to find Jocasta, but alas, it was to late. She had already hanged

herself. Oedipus then takes the shoulder pins from her dress and gouges his

eyes out with them blinding himself. From this misfortune Creon becomes

King, and after allowing Oedipus to say good-bye to his daughters, orders

him into the house, to await disposal at the god’s pleasure. As Oedipus enter

the house he is continually saying that he should be left to die on Mt.

Cithaeron just as the gods intended for him to.