Oedipus Rex Themes

Fate

A main theme in Oedipus Rex is Fate, Sophocles introduces Oedipus' fate early in the play. When Oedipus is told that he would kill his father and marry his mother Oedipus tried as hard as he could to avoid his doomed future. But as fate would have it the harder Oedipus tried to run from his fate the more it showed up.

Sophocles also does a lot of foreshadowing of Oedipus' fate in the play. When Oedipus finds out that to save Thebes the murderer of Laius must be killed or banished from Thebes Oedipus states:

Ban him from your homes, every one of you, for he is our pollution, as the Pythian god has just revealed to me. In doing this, I’m acting as an ally of the god and of dead Laius, too. And I pray whoever the man is who did this crime, one unknown person acting on his own or with companions, the worst of agonies will wear out his wretched life. I pray, too, that, if he should become a honoured guest in my own home and with my knowledge, I may suffer all those things I’ve just called down upon the killers. (Oedipus 280)

As we find out later in the play Oedipus blinds himself, Jocasta kills herself, and Oedipus leaves Thebes and his family behind. All of this after Oedipus' fate came true.

Willingness to ignore truth

There are multiple characters in the play who ignore the truth. After being told by Teiresias that Oedipus murdered Laius he is outraged and starts insulting Teiresias on his abililty to read prophecies. Oedipus also accuses Creon of treason despite no evidence and Creon being his brother-in-law he still thinks that they are both making up this story to overthrow Oedipus.

Jocasta also ignores the truth. When Jocasta tells Oedipus that he shouldn't believe prophecies shen then goes on to tell him a prophecy that lines up with events that happened to Oedipus which worries him even more and makes him look further into finding out the truth which worries Jocasta because she knows if the prophecy turns out to be true their lives are basically over. With Oedipus pushing to uncover the truth Jocasta gets desperate and says "In the name of the gods, no! If you have some concern for your own life, then stop! Do not keep investigating this. I will suffer—that will be enough". (Jocasta 1270). It is clear to see Jocasta doesnt want Oedipus to find out his origins because it will damage her.

Determination

Oedipus' is shown to be very determinated throughtout the whole play. We see this at the beginning of the play when the chorus come to Oedipus for help, he already sent Creon off to find the problem. All the way until Oedipus finds out the truth about his origins he never gave up.

A reason I think Oedipus was so determined was because he was well respected as he saved Thebes from the Sphinxes riddle. So I think Oedipus was trying to impress the people of Thebes more than doing it for their well being. Theres no actual proof of this but this is what I think.

I also think he is very determinated to find out who and where he comes from even if that destroys his reputation.

Oedipus says:

         Then let it break, whatever it is. As for myself, no matter how base born my family, I wish to know the seed from where I came. Perhaps my queen is now ashamed of meand of my insignificant origin—she likes to play the noble lady. But I will never feel myself dishonoured. I see myself as a child of fortune—and she is generous, that mother of mine from whom I spring, and the months, my siblings, have seen me by turns both small and great. That’s how I was born. I cannot change to someone else, nor can I ever cease from seeking out the facts of my own birth. (Oedipus 1290)

Determination