... 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. After Oedipus was king for some years, ... Oedipus another shepherd gave Oedipus to him. Oedipus now grew angry and sent for the other shepherd. He found out the shepherd was one of Laius" men. Jocasta then realized who Oedipus really was and tried to get him to stop searching for the truth. She said to him, "O Oedipus, Go...

• Word Count: 1224
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... the killer of King Laius. He is very diligent in the inquiry and finally comes to the horrible truth that he himself is the murderer. Jocasta kills herself at the horrible realization that she has laid with her son. As Oedipus puts out his eyes at finally seeing the truth he says ... intelligence superior to theirs. Oedipus uses the same intelligence and perseverance to find the killer of Laius. He does not give up his search even when Jocasta warns him to stop and let the matter rest. He calls the shepherd and interrogates him until he discovers the horrifying truth that he is the ... t...

• Word Count: 1375
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... prove to be some of the most significant aspects in determining the outcome of the play. Oedipus is blind from birth. His real parents, Laius and Jocasta, send him to be killed, but the shepherd asked to do this, instead gives him to another couple. After learning of the prophecy that he would ... his real father. In Thebes, Oedipus solves the riddle of the Sphinx, becomes king, blind to the fact that he has killed the previous one, and marries Jocasta. Blind to his past and to the power of prophecies, Oedipus killed a man and married a woman that was the exact age to be his mother. ......

• Word Count: 998
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... a criminal, yet Sophocles's character, Oedipus, is not guilty of either crime. Prior to the birth of Oedipus, a prophecy was spoken over Laius and his wife Jocasta. They were told that their son would one day be his father's killer and would then marry his mother. In fear, King Laius and Queen ... city from the wrath of the Sphinx by solving her riddle. Seen as a savior by the citizens of Thebes, Oedipus was made king and subsequently, the husband of Jocasta. Oedipus and his wife-mother ruled together and had four children while never knowing of the true relationship between each other. ...

• Word Count: 429
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... the people of Thebes free and named Oedipus the new King of Thebes. The people told Oedipus that he needed to find a woman and that Queen Jocasta was now single and they should wed in which they did. This then resulted in the birth of two daughters. If you think hard about what just ... happened you will realize that the Oracles prophecy had just came true, Oedipus killed his father and beget children with his mother, Queen Jocasta of Thebes. He had free will because he is the one who snapped and killed the men on the path, he did it with his own free ... This man also tried to dissuade...

• Word Count: 1080
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... of ignoring this chariot and going about his own business, he ended up acting on his anger and killing all of the men. Some may argue that Jocasta is responsible for Oedipus' downfall because in her efforts to save her husband from being killed, she tried to have her son murdered. However, Oedipus willingly ... with no mercy murdered the men he encountered and ignorantly ignored what Teirasias had to say. Jocasta, in no way shape or form, can be held responsible for those actions of Oedipus. She was only trying to save her husband. It is clear ... that even Oedipus sees himself as the m...

• Word Count: 754
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... . He is scared because what he hears sounds familiar, but his mind will not let him accept this news because then he has cursed himself to utter doom. Jocasta also seems to be scared and in denial of the truth. "What say'st thou? When I look upon thee, my king, I tremble", "So much for ... nor left", and "And now as thou hearest, judge what has become of those awe inspiring oracles," (lines 754,755,864.865,954, and 955). Jocasta would rather ignore fate while Oedipus would rather discover the truth and accept his fate. Her suicide, his disfigurement and banishment all symbolize their puni...

• Word Count: 709
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... of those related to his own life experiences. "My Oedipus Complex" was one of those stories. The Greek mythological character Oedipus was the son of Lauis, king of Thebes, and Jocasta. An oracle warned Lauis that if he had a son, his son would kill him. When Oedipus was born, Lauis remembered what the oracle said and pierced his son's ankles with ... to calamity and the Sphinx declared that Thebes would remain in that state until someone could solve her riddle. Creon, Jocasta's brother and now ruler of Thebes declared that anyone who solved the riddle would become ruler of Thebes and ha...

• Word Count: 675
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... blame because he is under the assumption that Polybus, The King of Corinth, and Merope are his real birth parents. However, Laius, King of Thebes and killed by Oedipus, and Jocasta, Oedipus' wife, are his real parents. Oedipus knows of the prophecy and he desperately tries not to let it come true and having the knowledge of who is real parents ... him from his agonistic fate. A second point showing Oedipus is not to blame is the fact that his real parents, Laius and Jocasta, sent him to be killed on the mountains of Cithaeron. Knowledgeable of Apollo's prophecy, Laius and Jocasta desper...

• Word Count: 805
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... through Laius. While Oedipus is explaining how he killed Laius, he also reveals how Laius" guards were very rude, and how Laius hit him over the head. Oedipus reveals to Jocasta what happened on the day he murdered men on a road, "And he who was in front as well as the elder himself were for driving me vigorously from the path ... much more tragic than Oedipus" downfall. When Laius died, he left behind many people that were dependant on him, and loved him. After his own son murdered Laius, his wife Jocasta was left all alone, as well as his children. Laius's kingdom was also left withou...

• Word Count: 1338
• Approx Pages: 5

... actions led inexorably to fulfillment of the rest of his foretold fate. Also, he himself had too much pride and overconfidence for his own good. In the beginning, Laius and Jocasta, Oedipus's parents, had a chance to prevent the realization of their son's "destiny", but their actions did otherwise. Once the oracle had told the two of what was to come of ... and was able lived a life in which he could (unintentionally) carry out the actions that were foretold by the oracle. What Laius and Jocasta could have done to wipe out any chance of him killing Laius and marrying Jocasta was to kill...

• Word Count: 729
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... revealed that he killed his own father and married his mother. According to page 74 of our English book, Queen Jocasta was found hanging; her body was swaying from the cord that she had noosed about her neck. The King ripped Jocasta's ornaments from her gown, raised them, and plunged them straight into his own eyeballs crying. Referring to page 77, he ... ...

• Word Count: 1032
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... are happy with life but Oedipus and Creon experience tragic events, which make them miserable. After killing the Sphinx, Oedipus has been enjoying being the king of Thebes, married to Jocasta, and had four children. But the happiness does not last forever because the oracle cursed Thebes with a blight. "Oedipus ruled as a kind and beloved king for many years. The ... Thebans loved him, and his marriage to Jocasta was happy. Their union had borne four children.But after many years of happiness and peace, a strange blight fell upon Thebes. Crops failed, and the people grew hungry; disease...

• Word Count: 929
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... , I pray thee; do not this."She is in a state of denial because she doesn't want to think about the tragedy that has taken place. Jocasta (Oedipus" mother) tries to keep believing that Polybus is Oedipus" father. When Jocasta learns of the death of Oedipus" "father", she laughs because she is not willing to accept the truth. She does not want to admit ... ...

• Word Count: 897
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... we are all destined from the beginning. Many of the characters believed in oracles and fate. " Fate rules us and nothing can be foreseen" (p 345). When Oedipus was an infant, Jocasta tried to kill him so she could sidestep her fate. Unfortunately the oracle could not be broken, and Oedipus survived. Fate brought them back together and the prophecy proved true ... ...

• Word Count: 567
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... his father at the time,but he would later see that he is the murderer of the king. At one point in the play Oedipus finds out that his wife Jocasta is really his mother, and that his children were not only his children but his brothers and sisters as well. He becomes so overwhelmed with what he has just found ... ...

• Word Count: 926
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School