Oedipus

In Sophocles,’ Oedipus the King, Oedipus introduces himself by saying “I Oedipus, whom all men call the great.� (8) Oedipus was a “great� man, but he also was cursed. He was cursed by the almighty god, Apollo, but he was too arrogant to believe the curse would be fulfilled. This story questions the everlasting mystery of “fate versus free will.� I will attempt to explain how Apollo’s curse, as well as Oedipus’ actions, ruined Oedipus’ life.
Oedipus was cursed before he was born. He was cursed because Apollo thought Laius, Oedipus’ father, and his family, brought homosexuality to Greece. The curse said that Laius and his wife, Jocasta, would have a baby, and that baby would grow up and kill his father and marry his mother. When Laius and Jocasta heard this they gave Oedipus to a shepherd to leave on the top of a hill to die. The shepherd could not do this, so he gave Oedipus to another shepherd. That shepherd then gave Oedipus to the king and queen of Corinth, Polybus and Merope. When Oedipus grew older, an oracle told him about the curse. Oedipus did not want anything to happen to Polybus and Merope; he thought they were his real parents, so he left Corinth. While he was walking, a carriage was coming towards hi

In conclusion, Oedipus’ temper, pride, and arrogance led him to fulfill the curse brought upon him. Oedipus’ temper and pride led his to kill his father. Being a prince made him proud, and he thought he did not have to move out of the way for anybody. When he saw the carriage wasn’t going to move, he grew angry. He lost his temper and killed everyone on the carriage except one person. His arrogance led him to believe that he could outwit Apollo and the curse placed on him. In the beginning of the play Oedipus could literally see but was blind to his real life. By the end of the play he was blind, but was finally able to see the truth.

Oedipus continued traveling until he reached the city of Thebes. When he arrived, there was a blight on the city. Oedipus asked how the blight could be removed and someone told him a riddle had to be solved. Being the intelligent man that he was, he solved the riddle and the blight was gone. Oedipus was thought to the people of Thebes as a savior, and they wanted him to take the place of their former king, Laius. Oedipus married the queen of Thebes, Jocasta. His arrogance led him to believe that by marrying Jocasta the curse was removed. He thought he had outwitted Apollo, and the gods favored him.

Oedipus sent for the blind prophet Teiresias. When he arrived Oedipus asked him who killed Laius. Teiresias cried, “Let me go home. It will be easiest for us both to bear our several destinies to the end if you follow my advice.” (319) Oedipus became very angry and accused Teiresias of betraying the people and destroying the city. Then Teiresias grew angry with Oedipus’ verbal abuse and said, “You have eyes, but see not where you are in sin, nor where you live, nor whom you live with. Do you know who your parents are?” (413) Teiresias beg