The Plague In Sophocles Oedipus The King

Sophocles begins the drama of Oedipus the King by having the people of Thebes report on the plague that has stricken the land’s crops and women. They called upon their ruler Oedipus, who once defeated the Sphinx who tormented their land, to aid them once more. Oedipus acknowledged his citizens suffering and waited for the return of his brother–in-law, Creon, who after traveling to the Oracle of Apollo informed Oedipus that to rescue Thebes, they must punish the killers of the previous king, Laius. Oedipus to comfort his people announced the search for those at fault and cast down a curse onto the murders. To hasten the search Oedipus called upon Tiresias, a respected blind prophet, to reveal who has caused the plague. Tiresias subtly claimed
When he was younger he abandoned his parents, the rulers of Corinth, after the Oracle of Apollo foretold that he would procreate with his mother and kill his father. In his effort to avoid fulfilling the prophecy he ran away until one day at the place where three highways meet he was attacked by a group of men, in the effort to defend himself he killed them. Jocasta and others told him that he can’t be sure until they speak with the shepherd, the only person who witnessed the murder of Laius. Suddenly, a messenger from Corinth arrived and told Oedipus that his father Polybus had died of old age. The news temporarily relieved Oedipus, until the messenger explained that Oedipus was not related to Polybus by blood. The messenger then described how Oedipus was given to him by Laius’ shepherd, and then handed off to Polybus and his wife because they were unable to have children of their own. Oedipus, determined to discover the truth, called for the Shepherd despite Jocasta’s plea to stop inquiring on the
To ease his mind Oedipus traveled to the Oracle of Apollo to question the gods, but instead of finding the answer he was seeking he received his delayed prophecy. His attempt to flee from his assumed parents in Corinth led him to Thebes, where he unknowingly fulfilled his prophecy proving there is no escaping the fate of the gods. Yet Oedipus completed the prophecy without acquiring the shame and suffering that should have come along with it, instead Oedipus “won complete prosperity and… [was] honored above all men, ruling over great Thebes.” The thought that the child of Laius and Jocasta was dead had spared Oedipus the consequences that should have followed from his unspeakable actions until the gods demanded atonement for the prophecy by threatening