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Structure Of Oedipus The King

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Nearly every Greek play has a clear central theme that is emphasized by both its characters and its structure. The everlasting Theban plays are no exception to this. Of the three Theban plays, Oedipus the King is the finest example of how a drama’s structure and characters heavily contribute to the development of the theme. In the prologue of Oedipus the King by Sophocles, the audience learns that the city-state of Thebes, ruled by a beloved man by the name of Oedipus, is in shambles. However, almost immediately after the audience discovers this, the supposed solution is revealed. In order to cure the city of Thebes, Oedipus must delve deeper into the mysterious death of the previous king, Laius, and punish whoever is responsible for his …show more content…

Better to live at random, best we can. And as for this marriage with your mother—have no fear. Many a man before you, in his dreams, has shared his mother’s bed. Take such things for shadows, nothing at all— Live, Oedipus, as if there’s no tomorrow! (1068-1078).
While Oedipus did exactly the opposite, stating;
She perhaps, she with her woman’s pride may well be mortified by my birth, but I, I count myself the son of chance, the great goddess, giver of all good things-I’ll never see myself disgraced. She is my mother! (1186-1190).
These two contrasting viewpoints say a lot about how people act in times of distress. Jocasta, by trying to play the situation off, shows how people sometimes lie to themselves in order to feel better about their situation. By saying that many other men dream about sharing their mother’s bed, she attempts to justify that their marriage is normal. Even though it is clearly not. In fact, what she said was a logical fallacy--for multiple reasons. Most prominently because what she said is a lie, most men do not dream about sleeping with their mother. But also because even if they did, that does not mean that Oedipus should as well. Additionally, by claiming that Jocasta’s “womanly pride” clouded her judgment, Oedipus shows how people make excuses for themselves in difficult situations. Just like Jocasta, Oedipus simply makes an excuse for himself so that he does not feel any remorse for ignoring Jocasta’s requests. Later, Oedipus gouges out

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