Your king was murdered – royal blood! What stopped you from tracking down the killer then and there?” (lines 145-147). This is when Oedipus takes it upon himself to track down the killer in order to appease the gods. He declares “No, I’ll start again – I’ll bring it all to light myself!” (lines 149-150). This is important because it is what eventually leads to Oedipus to discover the horrible fact about the murder of Laius.
A murder that Oedipus himself committed. Yet Oedipus asks, “Whose murder? Whose fate does Apollo bring to light?” (116-117) When the answer is Laius, ironically Oedipus remarks “I never saw the man myself.” (119) Apollo’s vague answer is the start of the drama that is the story of Oedipus the King. Oedipus then claims “I’ll bring it all to light myself!” (150) further adding to the irony of Oedipus’s heroism. Apollo, who is the lord of the light, fails to shine light on the horrible truth that is about to unfold.
Essay #2 As his quest begins it changes when Oedipus finds out that he really kills Laius for making him feel like a pheasant. But what he didn’t realize is that he was his own father until the messenger told him the truth. The main characters that Oedipus was in search for was himself. He was looking for someone that could save the town of Thebes from the plague but was not sure of who he was. They were trying to find the murderer of Laius, Oedipus not knowing it was him, when Jocasta was steering Oedipus in the wrong direction saying that it wasn’t him and it couldn’t have been him.
“For whoever killed Laius might decide to raise his hand against me. So, acting on behalf of Laius, I benefit myself, too”(Sophocles 10). The intended meaning is that Oedipus wants to find the murderer of Laius not only to save Thebes, but incase the murderer decides to kill Oedipus since he is king as he did Laius when he was king. The unintended meaning is that Oedipus himself is the murderer so he is trying to protect himself from himself, which ultimately fails because he pierces his own eyes. “I shall make a proclamation, speaking as one who has no connection with this affair, nor with the murderer”(Sophocles 14).
Could I track down the murderer without a clue? (13) Oedipus is so ignorant that he fails to recognize truths that lie right in front of him. Not knowing that he, himself was the one who committed the murder Oedipus states, As for the criminal, I pray to God-Whether it be a lurking thief, or one of a number- I pray that that mans life be consumed in evil and wretchedness” (14) Oedipus has people telling him about the prophecy, and he still fails to recognize what is directly in front of him. He is overly prideful and ignorent, these character flaws cause Oedipus to walk directly into his own demise. Oedipus suffers from a false sense of pride; this pride blinds him from the truth and leads to himself downfall.
Oedipus wants to figure out who killed Laius, the pervious king of Thebes. Whoever killed him would be banished. Oedipus sends for Tiresias, the prophet, to tell him who did such an evil act. Tiresias sarcastically tells him “…You are the murderer you seek” (Oed. 367).
Oedipus, a royal son adopted by another royalty, he tried to escape his faith, but ended up fulfilling it. How he was able to kill his father and marry his own mother, unknowing of what he was doing. So in the play, you do not know if to root for or despite him. Oedipus himself was a good man, he was known for solving the sphinx's riddle and he does not mean anyone any harm. He is also brave enough to go see his people in need instead of sending one of his men (p.25).
The purpose of seeing and blindness being a major theme in this play is to show the readers or watchers that the truth may be right in front of their eyes, and they still may not fully be able to see what’s right in front of them. When Oedipus learns of the prophecy of him killing his father and marrying his mother, he is blinded to the fact that Polybos and Merope are not his real parents. As he runs away from Corinth and goes to Thebes, he is blind to the fact the man in which he killed where the three roads meet was indeed his father. He then solves the riddle to prove he can be King, marry the Queen, which would unknowingly to him, be his mother Iokaste. The fortune teller Teiresias who comes to Thebes and reveals to Oedipus he indeed did kill his father and marry his mother, is himself blind.
Audrey Molony ENG 101 Orr Oedipus the King and Irony Oedipus the King by Sophocles is set between 430 and 428 B.C. in Thebes. A plague has struck, and it is believed to be brought on from the killing of their previous king, Laius. Creon has delivered a message to Oedipus that the only way to help his townspeople is to find the murderer of Laius and kill him. Throughout the play, irony is one of the many topics strongly portrayed.
He lies to protect himself in situations that could warrant his execution. After the king's murder, Macbeth slaughters the two guards in order to keep his secret. When Macduff asks why the guards were killed, Macbeth says "Who could refrain/ That gad a heart to love, and in that heart/ Courage to make's love known" ( II. iii. 136- 137).