Predestination of Oedipus Sophocles’s classic greek myth Oedipus Rex tells the complicated story of Oedipus’s life, status, and destination. Unlike other plays, expected outcome is known to the audience before it happens in the play. Based on a prophecy, King of Thebes will be killed by his thrown away son, the protagonist, Oedipus. At the beginning of the play, not only Oedipus’s destination is exposed to the public, but also his father, King Laius and his mother, Queen Jocasta’s destination is also set by means of prophecy.
Oedipus, son of Laius, born with destination preset to Corinth where he was delivered to King Polybus and Queen Merope by a messenger. Since Polybus and Queen couldn’t have any children, they gladly accepted Oedipus as their child. Growing up Oedipus later found out that Polybus and Merope are not his real parents. He has also learned from the Oracle that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Another example of predestination is set here by the author. After getting the news, Oedipus determined to find out his real father. Oedipus could not accept the foreknowledge set by the gods. He ran away from Corinth in search of his parents and on the way he kills his father without knowing his real identity. He tried to run away from his fate but ultimately he ran into it. In later scenes, when he moved to Thebes, he marries his mother, Queen Jocasta, without knowing her real identity. Throughout the scenes, Oedipus is only fulfilling his predestined fate. When he tried to find out the killer of King Laius, he said: If any know the murderer of Laius, Let him reveal it; I command you all. But if restrained by dread of punishment He hide the secret, let him fear no more; For nought but exile shall attend the crime Whene’er confessed; (Jackson 253)
Here, Oedipus sets his on destination without knowing himself as the murderer.
One