Knowledge In Sophocles Oedipus The King

Sophocles’ Oedipus the King is a tale much more profound than a king’s predestined misfortune unraveling. This “tragedy of fate” (Puchner 484), in which the time written is uncertain, begins with Oedipus facing a plague that is dwelling in Thebes and killing the residents, but this story contains a history that begins earlier than these events. Sophocles’ plays are “often considered the most perfect achievement of ancient Athens” (Puchner 481). His works are known for revealing characters who are not typical or cliché, but characters who stand out socially. Oedipus and his story are the perfect example of Sophocles’ standard. The tale of Oedipus the King demonstrates how fate and knowledge interact, and illustrates that prior knowledge can’t alter destiny. Oedipus’ story began before the events in the play, Oedipus the King,
The idea of knowledge, gaining information, and pride is consistent throughout this play as Oedipus searches for the truth about the cause of the plague on Thebes. Society has the idea that knowledge is power, but this play reveals that too much knowledge can lead to a downfall. While I do agree that we need to be knowledgeable about subjects and situations in our history and life as a whole, I also believe it is not our role to be prideful and play God. Oedipus’ birth parents attempted this when they received their son’s prophecy by thinking they could defeat their fate by killing their son. Oedipus experimented with this idea as well when he fled Corinth, and caused his own downfall as he tried to seek out information about Laius’ killer. The individuals in this play try to defeat fate consistently when this seems impossible. In every situation that these characters tried to conquer their destiny due to pride results in a downfall, and these lessons are what makes this play so important to society today, and what will make this play remain prevalent for all the years to