He never would’ve married his mother
and father her other children. On the other hand, had he never done this, I
think the gods would’ve found a way to make it happen. They needed this to
happen because Oedipus defeated the horrible Sphinx and saved Thebes from its
terrible reign. Oedipus also helped to restore Thebes. Another theme present in
Oedipus the King was, “don’t torture yourself or your loved ones over something
you had no control of.” This theme applies to Laius, Jocasta, and Oedipus.
First, Laius and Jocasta hurt themselves by abandoning Oedipus early in his
life, to avoid the inevitable. Secondly, and more relevant to the play, is a)
Jocasta killing herself and b) Oedipus spearing his pupils. They not only
painfully hurt themselves, but they didn’t really think of their children. No
matter how terrible what they did was, their children still needed them and
ultimately, the children are also the ones who are going to suffer. I found a
literary criticism of Oedipus the King in the book Greek Drama for Everyman by
F. L. Lucas.
Lucas thought that Oedipus the King was a ghastly, horrifically
plotted story with an unbelievable plot written two thousand years ago. Yet, it
still fascinates readers today. He ponders why. Lucas said the answer is the
common reader wants to know what a respectable, honorable man such as Oedipus
would do in such a situation. Lucas said that if something is meant to be, then
it is meant to be. Sophocles had an arduous task in convincing his audience to
overlook the flaws in Oedipus the King. For instance, Oedipus’ rationality. He
intimates that perhaps Oedipus let his curiosity get the better of him, and he
was the main cause of his fate. If Oedipus would’ve trusted the oracle at Delphi
more completely, he wouldn’t have rushed into changing his destiny. Maybe
Oedipus went looking for his future. In Lucas’ opinion, Sophocles’ Oedipus the
King is a great play because of how it moves, due to the scenes. The play is
dramatic, but to Lucas, not the highest possible. He says it was the first
detective thriller in Europe’s history. However, Lucas only liked the admirable
play, he didn’t admire it.
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