preview

Theme Of Guilt In Oedipus Rex

Satisfactory Essays

Throughout the whole play, Oedipus lives with the guilt and regret for having breached two of the most extreme and severe taboos of civilized society. Oedipus has sexual intercourse between he and his mother Jocasta. Also, because of his fate, Oedipus kills his father Polybus. His mind-boggling guilt at his actions makes himself blind and to be asked to be expelled from Thebes. In both Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus, Oedipus shows his confusion and his sense of guilt make his acts more complicated for the readers to understand. Throughout the play, Oedipus suffers much over what he has done. Regardless, he feels guilt and repugnance, and he is still excessively embarrassed to speak freely of his past when he is questioned by …show more content…

This kind of resigned acknowledgement of his fate is the what sets Oedipus apart from, say his sons. Though both Oedipus’s sons battle to assume control over their dad’s throne after he is kicked away, Oedipus comprehends that there are divine laws for a reason, expressing particularly that it isn’t cool murder your father and marry your mother. Thus, he does not battle the moonlight. It’s likely not that cool to murder your sibling either, so do not go getting any thoughts. At this point, we can easily find out that Oedipus’s idea of his role has changed. In Oedipus the King, he always shows his blindness, guilt, ignorance and arrogance and does not want to listen to others’ advices for him. From a successful and heroic ruler to a vagabond who is kicked out by the Thebes, Oedipus totally believe in the prophecy and the fate which he has. His fate also changes because of his attitude towards his destiny. Before Oedipus’s death, even though his sons are not that considerate to take care of him, his daughters Antigone and Ismene still give Oedipus the best end of his life. Theseus, who helps Oedipus at the end of Oedipus’s life, also helps Oedipus when his daughters Antigone and Ismene are captured by Creon. Because of Oedipus’s attitude swiftness, at the end of Oedipus at Colonus, even though he is still in a tragic life, he still has some better results for all the events he has been

Get Access