oedipustheking46-48

=Oedipus the King=

Page 46-48 [Lines 805 - 903]
Montanna Cheng

Summary:
Oedipus had once heard an oracle from Phoebus prophesize that he was destined to marry his mother, have children with her and murder his own father. Afraid that the oracle might come true, Oedipus fled from Corinth, as he believed that if he were to stay away from Polybus and Merope, whom he believed to be his real parents, he would be able to prevent the oracle from being fulfilled. As he journeyed, he came to a crossroads where he killed an old man and his men after he was provoked. Jocasta’s recounting of Laius’s death only sounded too familiar, and Oedipus becomes worried that the old man he killed was Laius.

Oedipus knows that the consequences of murdering one’s father would result in his banishment, and he would have brought a curse on himself. Oedipus fears that if the man he killed was indeed Laius, he would be fulfilling the oracle that was made in Pythos. As Oedipus becomes troubled by this, the Chorus attempts to reassure Oedipus, asking him to have hope before the herdsman, who had witnessed the crime arrives. Oedipus intends to find out if he was indeed the person who murdered Laius. If the herdsman’s story corresponded to Jocasta’s, then he would be “clear of this guilt”. If the herdsman claims that highway robbers had killed Laius, Oedipus would be exempted, yet if the herdsman states that the murderer was a lone traveler, then the evidence points toward Oedipus as the perpetrator. Jocasta however believes that Oedipus did not kill Laius. She maintains that the herdsman’s story would be consistent with hers, as he had told the whole city of the murder. Even if the herdsman’s story were to change, it does not prove that the oracle was fulfilled as it was prophesized that Laius was to be killed by his son. At this point, Oedipus still does not know that he is in fact the son of Laius.

The chorus voice their worry that if oracles and prophecies are not fulfilled, "God's service perishes". On one hand, the antistrophe remains loyal to Oedipus, praying that God does not condemn Oedipus. On the other hand, the strophe declares that a haughty man who does not "heed to Justice" and is hated by the shrines of the Gods should be smite by an evil doom.

Analysis:
Lines 805-903 mark the beginning of Oedipus’s discovery of the truth: his family background, his past and present. At this moment, Oedipus is only starting to arrive at half the truth; he does not yet realize who his parents are, and neither is he aware of the identity of the man whom he killed.

When Oedipus hears about the story of Laius’ death from Jocasta, he begins to contemplate the possibility of fulfilling the prophecy he had once heard from an oracle. Realizing that he may have committed the worst possible crime of parricide and incest, Oedipus curses himself, and accepts the prospect of being banished from his own country. Despite the fact that Oedipus was the one who announced that the murderer of Laius would be banished, he does not repudiate the consequences. Instead, he is prepared to accept his fate, which causes the audience to sympathize with Oedipus.

The crossroads where Laius was killed recurs throughout the play, and is an important symbol of fate. At the mention of crossroads, Oedipus is reminded of the terrible prophecy. The crossroads represent the inevitability of the play’s ending, and the inescapability of fate. Despite Oedipus’s determination to avoid the fulfillment of the prophecy by running away from Corinth, he eventually crosses paths with his birth father. The crossroads also signify a paradox between freedom/choice and fate/prophecies. Regardless of Oedipus’s choice to flee from his parents rather than stay to avoid the prophecy, he cannot escape his fate. An individual may have the freedom to choose the path he takes, but the choice that is made is somehow ultimately destined.

Whilst Oedipus considers the likelihood that the prophecy may have been fulfilled, Jocasta refuses to believe so, and attempts to counter every piece of evidence. There is a high degree of similarity between the scenario that Jocasta describes and the one Oedipus remembers. There is a difference between the two versions in the number of people at the murder scene, but even so, Jocasta does not appear to be paranoid or suspicious of anything. Thus, throughout the play, Jocasta is characterized as ignorant.

Jocasta is portrayed as both a victim and catalyst in //Oedipus the King//. She is a parallel to Oedipus, in that they are both guilty in the most horrific crime of incest. By attempting to defy the gods and avoid the prophecy, Jocasta abandons Oedipus as a child, which ultimately results in the fulfillment of the prophecy. Jocasta's ignorance and constant refutation of the prophecy may be to test Oedipus's faith in oracles, prophecies and the gods. (She does in fact pray to the gods multiple times, which can be seen later on).

The chorus announces that if oracles and prophecies are not fulfilled, then chaos will break out. They call out to Zeus, proclaiming his “ever-living power”, and remain steadfast in their belief that the prophecy will be fulfilled. If arrogant and haughty men (like Oedipus) triumph and "reap gains without justice", then the Gods may not be in control after all, and the chorus thus wonder "why should I honor the gods?". There is a contradiction in the Antistrophe's announcement: at one point they refer to Oedipus as an "insolent tyrant", yet they "pray that the God may never abolish the eager ambition that profits the state". Such ambiguity is used to reflect the audience's feeling of sympathy and revulsion for Oedipus.