Oedipus Rex

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Oedipus Rex
This classical tragedy takes place in the ancient city of Thebes. The city of Thebes has been gripped by a crisis. The plague has transformed the city of Thebes into a barren land. This tragedy by Sophocles unfolds into a sterile and desolate land of Thebes.
-King Oedipus
He is the king of Thebes. He is a man that is ruled by fate. He is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. He is unaware of the fact that he has already fulfilled the prophecy about his fate. He is intelligent, short of temper, and is hasty.
-Creon
Oedipus’ brother-in-law. He is judicious, rational, and consistent in nature. Oedipus accuses him of trying to steal his title because Creon supports Tiresias, which angers Oedipus even more. He counters by saying he owns a third of Thebes; but chooses not to rule it. When Oedipus is exiled, he leaves his two daughters in the hands of Creon.
-Queen Jocasta
Oedipus’ wife and mother. She is also Creon’s sister and previously wife to Laios. She is a good and loving wife and freely speaks her mind. Although she wants the city of Thebes to get better, she does not want Oedipus to find out why Thebes is sick, in fear of what the oracle prophesized becoming true.
One of the major themes in this play is that fate and character are intertwined. Oedipus is not only destined to perform these acts but the nature of his behavior also leads to his fate. The crimes that he committed against his mother and father was not only disgusting but he ignored the very signs that could have helped him avert his own befall. By not respecting the oracle or by ignoring the rumors about his origins, he started on a path that fate would have him fulfill.
Self-knowledge is also a theme in this play. When Oedipus inquires about his heritage it is when he finds out about the painful of who he is. Although he gave up his throne, abandoned his family, and destroyed his family as well as he ability to see, he earned ...