What are the major themes in Oedipus the King?

Oedipus Rex Themes

  • Fate vs. Free Will.
  • Guilt and Shame. The play begins with a declaration from the oracle at Delphi: Thebes is suffering because the person guilty of the murder of King Laius has not been brought to justice.
  • Sight vs. Blindness.
  • Finding Out the Truth.
  • Action vs.

Who is the killer in Oedipus the King?

Oedipus dedicates himself to the discovery and prosecution of Laius’s murderer. Oedipus subjects a series of unwilling citizens to questioning, including a blind prophet. Teiresias, the blind prophet, informs Oedipus that Oedipus himself killed Laius.

What is the moral of Oedipus?

Moral Lesson: You can’t always control what your destiny is. You can steer it in the right path though. Also if you want something done it is better to do it yourself. If you don’t do it yourself don’t rely on anybody else.

What does Oedipus symbolize?

The crossroads represent fate, where Oedipus made the choice to unknowingly fulfill his prophecy and kill his father. Lastly, Oedipus’s ankles represent the physical deformity that played a role in his fate; it’s also another symbolic body part that points to Oedipus’s moral deformity and ignorance of his own identity.

Did Oedipus know he married his mother?

Oedipus, unaware that Jocasta is his mother, marries her, and they have four children. After many years, a plague strikes the city, and the oracle proclaims that it will last until the murderer of Laius is discovered. Oedipus diligently begins the search.

What is the conclusion of Oedipus?

When Oedipus discovers the truth, he goes mad. Finding that he has fulfilled the prophecy (laying with his mother and killing his father) is compounded by the presence of his children, who are now effectively cursed by the actions of their father. Oedipus blinds himself with Jocasta’s brooches as a self-punishment.

What is Oedipus flaw?

Oedipus fits this precisely, for his basic flaw is his lack of knowledge about his own identity. Moreover, no amount of foresight or preemptive action could remedy Oedipus’ hamartia; unlike other tragic heroes, Oedipus bears no responsibility for his flaw.