The many crimes of oedipus in the story oedipus the king

Throughout this mythic story of patricide and incest, Sophocles emphasizes the irony of a man determined to track down, expose, and punish an assassin, who turns out to be himself. As the play opens, the citizens of Thebes beg their king, Oedipus, to lift the plague that threatens to destroy the city. Oedipus has already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle to learn what to do. On his return, Creon announces that the oracle instructs them to find the murderer of Laius, the king who ruled Thebes before Oedipus.

Plot Overview Antigone Antigone and Ismene, the daughters of Oedipus, discuss the disaster that has just befallen them. Their brothers Polynices and Eteocles have killed one another in a battle for control over Thebes. Creon now rules the city, and he has ordered that Polynices, who brought a foreign army against Thebes, not be allowed proper burial rites.

Creon threatens to kill anyone who tries to bury Polynices and stations sentries over his body. Soon, a nervous sentry arrives at the palace to tell Creon that, while the sentries slept, someone gave Polynices burial rites.

Creon says that he thinks some of the dissidents of the city bribed the sentry to perform the rites, and he vows to execute the sentry if no other suspect is found. The sentry soon exonerates himself by catching Antigone in the act of attempting to rebury her brother, the sentries having disinterred him.

Antigone freely confesses her act to Creon and says that he himself defies the will of the gods by refusing Polynices burial. Creon condemns both Antigone and Ismene to death. Creon asks him his opinion on the issue. Creon curses him and threatens to slay Antigone before his very eyes.

Creon decides to pardon Ismene, but vows to kill Antigone by walling her up alive in a tomb. The blind prophet Tiresias arrives, and Creon promises to take whatever advice he gives.

Tiresias advises that Creon allow Polynices to be buried, but Creon refuses. Tiresias predicts that the gods will bring down curses upon the city.

The words of Tiresias strike fear into the hearts of Creon and the people of Thebes, and Creon reluctantly goes to free Antigone from the tomb where she has been imprisoned.

But his change of heart comes too late.

A messenger enters and recounts the tragic events: They went in and saw Antigone hanging from a noose, and Haemon raving.

The messenger tells Creon that he has another reason to grieve: Eurydice has stabbed herself, and, as she died, she called down curses on her husband for the misery his pride had caused. Creon kneels and prays that he, too, might die. His guards lead him back into the palace.

Oedipus the King A plague has stricken Thebes. The citizens gather outside the palace of their king, Oedipus, asking him to take action.The story of Oedipus (Oedipus Rex in Latin, or Oidipous Tyrannos in Greek) begins in the city of Thebes, where a terrible plague has struck the land.

Oedipus sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi to ask what the fate of Thebes will be. Legacy & Oedipus Complex. Oedipus the King was not only staged throughout antiquity but is still performed to this day and is required reading in many schools.

It survived as the model for plays by such noted authors as Seneca, Dryden, and Voltaire. Oedipus is to Blame in Oedipus the King In the story of Oedipus the King, Sophocles portrays the main character, Oedipus, as a good natured person that has bad judgment and frailty.

From the SparkNotes Blog

Oedipus makes a few bad decisions and is condemned to profound suffering because of his pride. Oedipus, The King Summary Because the story was one familiar to most of its viewers in its time, there are certain things that they are expected to already know.

Among them is the background to the legend. Sep 05,  · Blasphemy, incest, murder and self-mutilation are the crimes that Oedipus commits in "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles ( B.C.E.

- B.C.E.). Specifically, Theban King . Oedipus Rex, also known by its Greek title, Oedipus Tyrannus (Ancient Greek: Οἰδίπους Τύραννος IPA: [oidípuːs týranːos]), or Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy by Series: Theban Plays.