Oedipus Rex: A Powerful Tragedy by Sophocles

Hareshwar Roy,
Oedipus Rex: A Powerful Tragedy

In the ancient Greek there was a city named Thebes. A terrible plague was sweeping there. The crops were dying. People were getting sick and dying. Everywhere there was helplessness. There was no way to stop it. For solution of this problem the people of Thebes looked to their kind and clever king, Oedipus. They believed he could save them just as he had once saved the city from a monster called the Sphinx by answering a difficult riddle. Oedipus loved his people dearly He promised them that he would do everything he could to find the cause of the plague and end the suffering.

Oedipus has a brother-in-law named Creon. He advises him to visit the Oracle of Delphi. It was a place where people used to go to get advice from the gods. The Oracle's advice is that the plague will end only when the murderer of the previous king, Laius, is found and punished. The killer is living in Thebes and the city is paying for his crime. Determined to find the killer, Oedipus stands before his people and announces a decree. He promises to find and exile or kill the murderer of King Laius, no matter who he is. He even curses the killer, unknowingly cursing himself in the process. To help him, Oedipus calls for the blind prophet Tiresias. Tiresias is a fellow who knows the secrets of the gods. At first, Tiresias refuses to speak. He claims that the truth is too painful. Oedipus becomes very angry. In his anger he accuses him of being part of the murder plot. At this Tiresias finally reveals the shocking truth. He says, 'You are the murderer you are seeking.' Oedipus is furious and does not believe him. He thinks Tiresias and Creon are plotting against him to usurp his throne.

The mystery begins to unravel when a messenger arrives from a city called Corinth. The messenger comes to inform Oedipus that his father, the king of Corinth, has died. This is good news but Oedipus is still worried about that prophecy in which it was prophesized that one day he would kill his father and marry his mother. The messenger attempts to comfort him. He says to Oedipus that he has nothing to worry about. He reveals that Oedipus was not the king's biological son but a baby found and adopted by the king and queen of Corinth.

This news was shocking for Jocasta, the wife of Oedipus. It was she who used to be the wife of the previous king, Laius. She recalls that a long time ago a prophecy was made to her husband, Laius. It was prophesized that he would be killed by his own son. To prevent this, they gave their baby to a servant to abandon on a mountain. The messenger from Corinth reveals that he was the one who was given the baby. But instead of abandoning him, he gave the baby to the king of Corinth.

Oedipus is determined to find out the full truth. He sends for the old shepherd who was given the baby all those years ago. The shepherd is now very old. He does not want to speak the truth. But he is forced to reveal the truth. He finally confesses that he was indeed the one who took the baby from the palace of Thebes and gave him to the messenger. It was a terrible truth of Oedipus. He comes to know that he is the son of Laius and Jocasta. He has unknowingly killed his own father and married his own mother.

As soon as Jocasta faces the horrifying truth, she becomes nervous. In this nervousness she runs into the palace and hangs herself. Oedipus finds her dead body. In a moment of despair and madness, he takes two long pins from her dress and blinds himself. He says that this truth is horrifying. He further adds that he can no longer bear to look upon the world now. Now he is a broken man. Blind and exiled, he wanders off. Oedipus was a good king. Unknowingly he commits sin. He heavily pays for it. This sin brings about his downfall.

The story of Oedipus Rex is a powerful and heartbreaking tragedy. It stands as a classic reminder of the terrible power of destiny and the tragic irony of human life. It shows us that you cannot escape your fate. It also reminds us that the truth can sometimes be more painful than living in ignorance. 
Location: B-37, City Homes Colony, Jawahar Nagar Satna, Madhya Pradesh, India
Currently Dr. Roy is working as Professor of English at Govt. P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. He is the author of the following books: (1) Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji (2) A Study of M.G. Vassanji 's Novels (3) Varieties of Indianity in the Works of M.G. Vassanji & Rohinton Mistry (4)Diaspora & Indian Diaspora: A Brief Study (5) Short Notes of English Literature - I (6) Short Notes of English Literature - II (7) हमार पहचान ह भोजपुरी - भोजपुरी कविता संकलन (8) हमरा प्यार हो गइल - भोजपुरी गज़ल संकलन (9) भोजपुरी कविताएँ

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