Aware that a terrible curse has fallen upon the city of Thebes, King Oedipus sends Creon, his brother-in-law to seek advice from the god Apollo. Creon returns with the news that the curse can only be lifted if the murderer of former king Laius is identified and either banished or killed. Without much thought, Oedipus makes it his responsibility to discover who committed the murder many years ago and banish them from Thebes forever.
It is then suggested to Oedipus that he must speak with the blind prophet Teiresias who often “sees” what Apollo “sees”. Teiresias hints that he knows much more than one may think, but refuses to share his knowledge with Oedipus. After much back and forth arguing, the blind prophet admits that Oedipus himself is …show more content…
Oedipus believed that the curse and prophecies were all a part of Creon’s plan. Luckily Jocasta, Oedipus’ wife enters before any physical altercation. Jocasta then learns what’s bothering Oedipus which is the prophecy. She insures him not to worry about the prophet, because they have been wrong in her past. As an example, she tells Oedipus about how she and King Laius had a son who was prophesied to kill Laius and sleep with her so they killed him and the prophecy never came true.
To make matters worse, Oedipus remembers that as a child an old man once told him that he was adopted, and that eventually he would kill his biological father and sleep with his biological mother. He also remembers that shortly before arriving in Thebes he killed a man on a crossroad.
A very confused Oedipus journeys to question a messenger and a shepherd, both who know much about Oedipus’ past. It is revealed that Oedipus was abandoned as an infant by the Queen and King of Thebes and was adopted by a new royal family. Meanwhile, in a moment of insight, Jocasta realizes that she is in fact Oedipus’s mother and that Laius was his father, horrified she commits suicide by hanging herself. Oedipus, too, realizes the truth of his life and in horror, gouges his eyes out and is exiled from
It is then suggested to Oedipus that he must speak with the blind prophet Teiresias who often “sees” what Apollo “sees”. Teiresias hints that he knows much more than one may think, but refuses to share his knowledge with Oedipus. After much back and forth arguing, the blind prophet admits that Oedipus himself is …show more content…
Oedipus believed that the curse and prophecies were all a part of Creon’s plan. Luckily Jocasta, Oedipus’ wife enters before any physical altercation. Jocasta then learns what’s bothering Oedipus which is the prophecy. She insures him not to worry about the prophet, because they have been wrong in her past. As an example, she tells Oedipus about how she and King Laius had a son who was prophesied to kill Laius and sleep with her so they killed him and the prophecy never came true.
To make matters worse, Oedipus remembers that as a child an old man once told him that he was adopted, and that eventually he would kill his biological father and sleep with his biological mother. He also remembers that shortly before arriving in Thebes he killed a man on a crossroad.
A very confused Oedipus journeys to question a messenger and a shepherd, both who know much about Oedipus’ past. It is revealed that Oedipus was abandoned as an infant by the Queen and King of Thebes and was adopted by a new royal family. Meanwhile, in a moment of insight, Jocasta realizes that she is in fact Oedipus’s mother and that Laius was his father, horrified she commits suicide by hanging herself. Oedipus, too, realizes the truth of his life and in horror, gouges his eyes out and is exiled from