Oedipus Rex: A Closer Look

Oedipus Rex is a very interesting and enjoyable play to read. Throughout the play, your emotions are tossed and turned as the main character in the play, Oedipus, finds out exactly who he is and what he has done. At times we actually feel sorry for Oedipus when he finds out more about his actions.

In the beginning of the play, the Prologue, we find the people of Thebes pleading to Oedipus for an answer to their city's plight and desolation. They see him as their savior, saving them from the Sphinx. They actually call Oedipus their "master and greatest power (p. 2, line 40)," because he has "delivered us from despair (p. 2, line 36)." Oedipus appears, and characterizes himself as famous (p. 1, line 8), probably because of what he has done for Thebes. Oedipus loves the people of Thebes, however, and sees them as his own children (p. 1, line 1) and feels pity for the trouble that they're in. Oedipus says, "None of you can know the anguish that I feel (p. 3, line 61)," speaking about how he feels about the state that Thebes is in.

The first episode is when action begins and the audience finds out why Thebes in is in desolation. Creon, who is Jocasta's brother, comes with the word from a god that Thebes is suffering because of the murder of their former king. That murderer has to be banished. Teiresias, who is an ancient blind prophet, is summoned by Oedipus to find out who murdered Laius, Thebes' former king (p. 12, line 307). Unfortunately, Teiresias does not want to reveal the information because it is too terrible for him to reveal. Oedipus scorns him, telling him that he is being hostile towards his own city (p. 13, lines 322-23), and that he must tell who murdered Laius. Teiresias concedes to Oedipus, saying that Oedipus himself murdered Laius. Because of that, he predicts that Oedipus will be banished from the land and that his "eyes will only see darkness (p 17, lines 418-19)."