Oedipus’ father and mother, Laius and Jocasta, were strictly forbidden on behalf of the gods not to have a child. Should they do so, this child was cursed to murder his father and impregnate his mother. However, Laius and Jocasta paid no regard to this warning and bore a child, who they abandoned and was later found and reared by a wealthy couple in a near by city. Once Oedipus had grown, an oracle told him that he would kill his father and marry his mother, and so he left who he believed to be his family in a search of a better future.

Oedipus’ free will lead him to make many decisions, and these often lea

Yet the gods were not satisfied with the prophecy merely being fulfilled, Oedipus must discover that he has wronged and go through gruelling mental torture. So they place a terrible plague upon Thebes, the crops begin to die, the women cannot bear children and the very young and very old are ridden with disease. Out of his best interest for his people, Oedipus decides to what is wrong with his city, and send his brother in law, Creon, to ask an oracle what can be done to cure Thebes. Creon returns bearing news that the murderer of Laius must be banished from Thebes. Oedipus gives a speech indicating that the murderer will be severely punished. He then called upon a blind prophet demanding to know who Laius’ murderer is. The prophet refuses to divulge the information, saying that Oedipus is better off not knowing the answer. Yet Oedipus chooses to badger him until the prophet loses his nerve and tells Oedipus that he is the one polluting Thebes. After being warned not to dig further into the past, Oedipus’ curiosity and stubbornness drives him to find out more. A messenger is sent from his home city stating that his ‘father’ has passed away. Oedipus is momentarily relieved to find that he had successfully escaped the prophecy, but the messenger reveals that he was actually found abandoned on a mountainside. Oedipus then, after Jocasta’s fruitless attempts at convince him not to pursue his search for his heritage, called upon a Shepard who is said to know a little of Oedipus’ childhood. This Shepard referred him to another Shepard who explained that he was given instructions to take Oedipus from the palace and leave him on the mountainside. At this point Jocasta hangs herself and Oedipus works out who him natural parent are and he decides the best course of action would be to blind himself and leave the city of Thebes forever.

This e

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