The Motives of Oedipus Rex

Khaya Palada 10/21/12

Palada, 1 In the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles by Sophocles (rpt. In James P. Place, Literature: A Reader for Freshman Composition II, 2nd ed. [Boston: Pearson, 2012} 120-166) Oedipuss primary motivation throughout the action of the play is to find the murderer of Laois. Oedipus also wants to find out who he really is. Prior to the play, Oedipuss motive was to distance himself from the prophecy. Many characters try to dissuade Oedipus from pursuing his purpose including Teiresias, Iokaste and the Shepard to protect him. Throughout the action of the play, Oedipuss primary motivation is to find the murderer of Laios. The murder of Laios is the reason the plague has descended onto the Thebes and in order to lift the plague, they must find the murderer of Laios. Kreon explains Laioss murder to Oedipus, He was murdered; and Apollo commands us now to take revenge upon whoever killed him. Oedipus wants to save the city of Thebes like he has done in the past, unknowing that he actually killed Laios. Additionally, Oedipus wants to know who he really is. The story Iokaste tells Oedipus about the murder of Laios sounds familiar to him and he fears he might have been the one to actually kill Laios. Oedipuss motives in actions prior to the play are to prevent the prophecy from coming true. The prophecy stated that he would kill his father and marry his mother and to prevent this he moved away from Corinth. However, he did not have all the facts in the prophecy. He did not realize that the king and queen of Corinth were in fact not his biological parents. The prophecy does come true when he murders his father in a fight over who has the right of way on the road and marries his mother when he moves to Thebes. Teiresias is the first to attempt to dissuade Oedipus from pursuing his purpose. Teiresias, an old, wise blind man, refuses to tell Oedipus what he knows because he knows How dreadful knowledge of the truth can be when theres no help in truth! Oedipus decided to ignore

Teiresias warning and forced Teiresias to tell him. However, he didnt believe Teiresias and became enraged and ordered Teiresias to leave. Likewise, Iokaste tells Oedipus to leave the matter alone because she fears the prophecy was fulfilled and she wants to protect Oedipus and her family. Listen to me, I beg you: do not do this thing! She implies that she knows who Oedipus really is and how the prophecy turns out. She does not tell Oedipus, but goes into her room and commits suicide. The Shepard is scared of the outcome and does not want to confirm the prophecy when he knows the destruction it will bring. Ah, I am on the brink of dreadful speech! Just like his reaction to Teiresias answer, Oedipus becomes enraged and demands the Shepard to tell him. The Shepard finally reveals that Oedipus did in fact kill his father and marry his mother. Throughout the play Oedipus Rex Oedipuss primary motivation is to find the murderer of Laios and discover who he really is. Prior to the action of the play, Oedipuss motives were to prevent the prophecy from coming true. Tiresias, Iokaste and the Shepard attempt to prevent Oedipus from discovering the truth, however the truth comes out. The choragus finishes with the moral and let none presume on his good fortune until he find life, at his death, a memory without pain.