Oedipus Rex

In Oedipus Rex, it appears that Oedipus’ tragic downfall was the result of misfortune – his actions of killing his father and marrying his mother were done without knowledge or intent, and thus his punishment of scorn and banishment seems excessive for the crime. However, though Oedipus was struck by the gods with unfortunate circumstances, it was through his own free will that the oracles were permitted to come true. The weaknesses in Oedipus’ personality and his lapses in judgment caused him to make a series of decisions that ultimately led to his demise. Before the play begins, the reader is told that fifteen years ago, the Oracle at Delphi predicted Oedipus would murder his father and marry his mother. Upon hearing the prophecy, Oedipus purposely leaves Corinth in order to avoid harm and danger to his supposed parents. Ironically, it is Oedipus’ decision to escape fate that leads him to fulfill the prophecy. Though Oedipus does not realize the consequences of his actions, the error in his judgment lied in his attempt to circumvent fate. By believing he was not bound to the will of the gods and trying to escape destiny, Oedipus created the opportunity to meet his real father and mother, and thus, commit murder and incest. Had he let fate take its own course without attempting to evade the gods, he may have never had the opportunity to commit these crimes. The contribution of Oedipus’ arrogance to his downfall is also apparent in his stubbornness during the process of seeking Laius’ murderer. In his questioning of Tiresias, Oedipus becomes enraged when the prophet refuses to speak and accuses him of being an accomplice in the murder. After Tiresias finally relents and asserts that Oedipus is the murderer, Oedipus becomes infuriated. Though Tiresias hints that “you [Oedipus] are your own worst enemy,” (p. 22) Oedipus’ narrow-mindedness prevents him from seeing any truth in Tiresias’ statements, and he proceeds to question the prophet’s motive as a means of