Oedipus gained the rule of Thebes by answering the riddle of Sphinx. Sophocles used the riddle of the Sphinx as a metaphor for the 3 phases of Oedipus’ life and to further characterize him as a tragic man. The Sphinx posed the following riddle to all who came to obtain the rule of Thebes: “What is it that walks on 4 feet and 2 feet and 3 feet and has only one voice, when it walks on most feet it is the weakest?” Oedipus correctly answered “Man” and became the king of Thebes.

This riddle is a metaphor for the life of Oedipus. As a child man crawls on his hands and knees this is the four feet to which the Sphinx refers. Also man is at his weakest as a small child. He depends solely on others for his nourishment and well being. Oedipus was the child of Jocasta and King Laius, who was taken to the mountain by a shepherd to be killed so the omen

Man walks on 2 feet when he has matured. This is a metaphor for Oedipus when he reaches adulthood and leaves Corinth to escape the oracle. Oedipus meets up with a band of travelers and in a rage kills them. Inadvertently, Oedipus has killed his own father. Oedipus then answers the riddle of the Sphinx and becomes king of Thebes. By becoming king of Thebes he marries Jocasta the Queen of Thebes, who his own mother.

Character changes play an important role in “Oedipus, the King.” There are three main character changes. The first one is that Oedipus goes from being the “Savior of Thebes” to being the “Curse of Thebes.” Jocasta states, “You’re doomed-may you never fathom who you are!” (1005). In this line, it is declared that Oedipus’s fate is to be a disaster- prone man. This is the final fall of Oedipus, in which he accepts what has happened and finally learns the lesson the Gods tried to help him “see”. Next, Jocasta transforms from a loving wife to a resentful mother who kills herself. The third main character change is that the town fold went from being adoring, praising servants of Oedipus, to becoming angry citizens of Thebes who pluck out his eyes. Tiresias says, “You are the curse, the corruption of the loved!” (986). As well as supporting the plot twist in which the citizens of Thebes no longer are adorers of Oedipus, this line reveals that Oedipus has fulfilled his fate.

it has not been for the shepherd sparing his life and giving him to Polybus to rise as his own Oedipus would have died.

is far more concerned with his own sense of self and demands for justice on his terms, than in compromising his desires like any other true leader would. This tragedy reminds us that even the bravest and those known throughout the world for their knowledge, are doomed if they set themselves up against the mystery of life itself, and if they try to force life to answer them, they are going to self-destruct.

Sophocles used many plot twists to make his play interesting. Two twisted are cent

Some topics in this essay:
King Laius, Sophocles Oedipus, Thebes” Jocasta, Sphinx Sophocles, Oedipus Sphinx’s, Apollo Laius’, Finally Oedipus, Athenians Oedipus, Gods Oedipus, Inadvertently Oedipus, riddle sphinx, king thebes, tragic discovery, king lauis, riddle oedipus, answer riddle, answering riddle, answer riddle sphinx, character changes, sphinx killed, main character, irony tragic discovery, tragic discovery fate,