The question of why we are here and what our purpose is as humans is at the very center of Odepipus Rex. Oedipus is one who portrayed determination in finding out what his meaning and purpose was in life, even though his fate was already predetermined. Implicit in the story is one essential question, how could Oedipus live a life of meaning and purpose when at birth he was sent to die?
Although Oedipus Rex was a man who lived a very complicated life, and attempted to uncover the difficult truths of his existince, in most cases, he made his voyage more problematic. He is the prime example of a person who sought to find meaning and purpose in life, but let his pride play a major role in his rejection towards the fate determined for him.
Although Oedipus Rex was a man who lived a very complicated life, and attempted to uncover the difficult truths of his existince, in most cases, he made his voyage more problematic. He is the prime example of a person who sought to find meaning and purpose in life, but let his pride play a major role in his rejection towards the fate determined for him.
According to Sophocles "the unexamined life is not worth living", and that is exactly what Oedipus did, examined his life to the fullest. This play proves to the reader that fate can't be tested or escaped . Oedipus finds trouble when he tries to find out more knowledge than he can handle. The Oedipus story begins prior to the start of the play when Oedipus recieves his fate from the Delphic Oracle, and finds out that in the future he will end up killing his father and marrying his mother. Thinking that his mother and father were Polybos and Merope, the only parents he knew, he escaped to Thebes so he could change his fate avoid harming his parents. This shows admiration, but at the same time shows how much of a coward and how stubborn he was because he was unwilling to accept his fate. But he only later finds out that he cannot change fate because he has no control over it, only the God's can control what happens.
Oedipus is a very healthy person with a strong willed mind who never gives up until he gets what he wants. But it is recognized quickly, that in this play, those traits are not envied, but rather undesired.
Two of Oedipus's major downfalls when trying to find his meaning and purpose to life were his pride and arrogance. Having no knowledge of who his real parents were, caused major chaos in his life and this is proven when he kills Laius without the understanding that he was not only his father, but the King of Thebes. He does this at a place where three roads meet because he was ordered to remove himself from the road that he was walking along to get to Thebes, and when he refused, was attacked by Laius and his men. Oedipus kills all but one, who actually survived. This is when the play turned ironic because in trying to save the parents he thought were his biological ones, he left Corinth to avoid the fate destined for him, but wounded up following his predestined fate. He eventually in the end finds out who his real parents are and sees the damage he has done. This murderous act shows how quickly his selfish motives took over as he would stop at nothing to have gotten his revenge upon the men who were interfering with his voyage to Thebes, to start a new life filled with hopeful meaning.
However what ultimately destroyed Oedipus was the fate that he had no choice over. What he chose not to believe eventually destroyed him. The reader quickly realizes that by attempting to escape his fate, he ran head first into it. It was apparent that he wanted to uncover the pieces of his life, but in the same sense wanted to escape his fate, which in all actuality was impossible. He was without a doubt the central protagonist with good intentions but one big flaw. Fate was the antagonist that prevented him from living a life of meaning and purpose, and drew him towards change. When he arrives at the city of Thebes he is informed that the Sphinx is killing all that cannot solve her riddle, so Oedipus goes to cite the riddle and outsmarts this beast who was cursing the city. He received praise and joy from the people, and felt acceptance in the city of Thebes. While gaining the trust of all that lived there, he quickly became King of Thebes, and wedded Jocasta (his biological mother). In the play he is described as a secure leader, who the people looked up to and admired. He referred to himself as "Oedipus whom all men call the Great." Although, his confidence is an important virtue in a leader, when his confidence turned to modesty, this caused tragedy.
However what ultimately destroyed Oedipus was the fate that he had no choice over. What he chose not to believe eventually destroyed him. The reader quickly realizes that by attempting to escape his fate, he ran head first into it. It was apparent that he wanted to uncover the pieces of his life, but in the same sense wanted to escape his fate, which in all actuality was impossible. He was without a doubt the central protagonist with good intentions but one big flaw. Fate was the antagonist that prevented him from living a life of meaning and purpose, and drew him towards change. When he arrives at the city of Thebes he is informed that the Sphinx is killing all that cannot solve her riddle, so Oedipus goes to cite the riddle and outsmarts this beast who was cursing the city. He received praise and joy from the people, and felt acceptance in the city of Thebes. While gaining the trust of all that lived there, he quickly became King of Thebes, and wedded Jocasta (his biological mother). In the play he is described as a secure leader, who the people looked up to and admired. He referred to himself as "Oedipus whom all men call the Great." Although, his confidence is an important virtue in a leader, when his confidence turned to modesty, this caused tragedy.
The one thing that stood against Oedipus was the fate that he had no choice over. What he chose not to believe eventually destroyed him. The reader quickly realizes that by attempting to escape his fate, he ran head first into it. It was apparent that he wanted to uncover the pieces of his life, but in the same sense wanted to escape his fate, which in all actuality was impossible. He was without a doubt the central protagonist with good intentions but one big flaw. Fate was the antagonist that prevented him from living a life of meaning and purpose, and drew him towards change. When he arrives at the city of Thebes he is informed that the Sphinx is killing all that cannot solve her riddle, so Oedipus goes to cite the riddle and outsmarts this beast who was cursing the city. He received praise and joy from the people, and felt acceptance in the city of Thebes. While gaining the trust of all that lived there, he quickly became King of Thebes, and wedded Jocasta (his biological mother). In the play he is described as a secure leader, who the people looked up to and admired. He referred to himself as "Oedipus whom all men call the Great. Although, his confidence is an important virtue in a leader, when his confidence turned to modesty, tragedy ensued.
