Oedipus Rex Major Themes
Oedipus Rex was written by Sophocles. The play was written to show the Greek belief that the gods’ will cannot be avoided by humans. The writer showed that even a powerful person like Oedipus could not avoid the unfortunate events of his personal life despite his struggle. In today’s article, you will learn about the major themes of the tragic play, Oedipus Rex/Oedipus the King.
Guilt and Shame:
Oedipus felt guilt and shame due to his foul acts. He didn’t know the person he murdered was his father. Plus, he was also unaware that he had married his mother and had children from his mother. After knowing the truth, he felt severe guilt and shame for his actions. The theme of guilt and shame is dominant in the play from the start to the end in one form or another. The play begins with the guilt and shame that Oedipus vows to bring to Laius’ murderer. However, these negative emotions become the dark shadows for Oedipus’ life in the play. Plus, his mother, Jocasta, was horrified and ashamed of her marriage to Oedipus, so she committed suicide in the play.
Fate Versus Free Will:
Oedipus murdered Laius because of his extreme anger. Then, he found the truth due to being stubborn. The extreme anger and stubbornness were his tragic flaws. But according to Sophocles, the absence of these flaws or any struggle to avoid the tragic destiny would not have saved Oedipus from the tragedy. So Oedipus’ free will couldn’t have done anything to stop the tragic prophecy from being fulfilled. Yes, the Greeks used to believe that humans could not avoid at any cost what the gods had written for them a long time ago. That’s exactly what happened in Oedipus Rex. Oedipus, despite his efforts to avoid the tragic events, murdered his father and married his mother unknowingly. This tragedy shows the power of the Greek gods over human life that resulted in Oedipus’ blindness, his mother’s suicide, and his exile from Thebes.
Sight Versus Blindness:
Throughout the play, before the revelation of the truth, Oedipus believed that he knew very well what he was doing. He was a proud king. And he also taunted Tiresias for his blindness. But in reality, the prophet was the seer because he knew why the city (Thebes) was suffering from the plague. Therefore, despite the prophet’s blindness, he knew the real identity of Oedipus that the king was unaware of or couldn’t see.
Conclusion:
So that is all about Oedipus Rex/Oedipus the King themes. It is hoped that you liked the content. If you have any questions or concerns, let the author know via the contact form or email address on the website. Plus, share the post with your fellows to assist them in understanding the thematic analysis of the play.