Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex is a tragedy written by Sophocles. It tells the story of Oedipus, the hero of Thebes as he tries to discover the truth behind the death of the former King Laius. Oedipus discovers dark secrets about his past, and the truth destroys him. A major theme of the play is the power of prophecy. Characters are constantly trying to avoid prophecy but in their efforts they fulfill the prophecies and cause their own doom. But when the truth becomes revealed, many of the characters choose to ignore the truth. A key quote is from Jocasta trying to comfort Oedipus. She says, “Fear? What should a man fear? It’s all chance, chance rules our lives. Not a man on earth can see a day ahead, groping through the dark. Better to live at random, best we can. And as for this marriage with your mother—have no fear. Many a man before you, in his dreams, has shared his mother’s bed. Take such things for shadows, nothing at all— Live, Oedipus, as if there’s no tomorrow!” At this point in the play the Messenger that eventually reveals that Oedipus is Jocasta and Laius’s son has appeared, and the pieces of the puzzle are coming together. Although she says that everything is random and the future cannot be predicted, all prophecies in the play come true. Her flippant treatment of the prophesized incest comes back to haunt her. Although Jocasta says to ignore all prophecies and to live life freely, she did not follow her own advice. When faced with a prophecy that said her son will kill her husband and bed her, she abandoned her baby and caused the events to happen. If Oedipus also did not react so strongly to his prophecy, then he would not have met Laius on the road and caused his own doom. This quote depicts the irony of the play and the forces of free will and prophecy that create Oedipus’s doom.