Oedipus’s transition from the beginning to the end Essay

Sophocles’ Greek tragedy, â€Å"Oedipus† displays how fate and destiny, rather than chance, determine the events within human life. It is this fate that turns Oedipus’ seemingly perfect existence full circle, leaving him with less than nothing in the end. During the course of this story, Oedipus undergoes a complete conversion because of his personal quest to find out his true identity. He eventually learns the truth, but at a great cost. He finds that he isn’t who he believed himself to be, and he loses everything in the process. Oedipus therefore undergoes an absolute transition from a kingship to exile, from wisdom to confusedness, from admirability to utter shame. When Oedipus is first seen, he is clearly noted as the ruler of Thebes. The priest in fact regards him as, â€Å"Great King of Thebes and sovereign Oedipus†¦ † (Line 14). At the moment, Thebes is afflicted with a terrible and mysterious plague, which can only be eliminated when the murderer of Laius, the former King of Thebes, is exiled or killed. It is apparent that the people trust and admire their King, and so they look to him for help and guidance. This is why Oedipus acts so swiftly to find Laius’ murderer no matter what the cost may be. Oedipus once again exercises his kingship and power against Creon, upon hearing from Teiresias (a prophet) that he himself killed Laius. He accuses Creon of treason and sentences him to death. Even though the whole chorus and his wife, Iocasta, are against him, his will is still carried out until he himself decides otherwise. Such makes Oedipus the most powerful man at this point. However, as the events progress, Oedipus finds out that he indeed killed Laius. Upon hearing this, Oedipus’ whole world shatters, and he can no longer bear the truth. He blinds and willingly sends himself to exile. Oedipus loses his title and all the power that it stands for. He is left with nothing but his life in the end. Oedipus gained his Kingship by defeating the mythical man eating Sphinx and solving its riddle. The riddle was, â€Å"What has four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three at night? † Oedipus was the only one who answered, â€Å"Man†, causing the Sphinx to finally kill herself. Man crawled as a baby in its youth, walked with both feet during mid life, and walked with a cane when old. Answering this riddle saved the kingdom of Thebes from the feared Sphinx, and so Oedipus was forever recognized for this. Oedipus’ wit, however, was also the cause of his downfall. This is shown during Oedipus’ debate with Teiresias. As Oedipus exclaims, â€Å"†¦ my skill has brought me glory†, Teiresias replies, â€Å"And this success brought you to ruin too† (lines 441-443). In other words, Oedipus fulfilled the dark prophecy placed upon him by defeating the Sphinx and thus, marrying Iocasta. In this tragedy, Oedipus is faced with the riddle of his identity. However, despite his wit, he is never able to solve the riddle on his own. In fact, he is confused practically throughout the course of the story. Iocasta even solves this riddle before he does, explaining her sheer reluctance of him trying to find out. It takes a whole cluster of clues for Oedipus to finally see that he was his father’s murderer, and his mother’s husband. Finally, Oedipus begins the tragedy with all the qualities of an admirable King. Oedipus genuinely loves his subjects, as can be seen in lines 58-60 â€Å"My children, what you long for, that I know indeed, and pity you. † He calls his citizens his children, signifying his seniority, but also his devotion to them. He is proud of his citizens and of himself. He wants to prove that he is a good king to his people, and so he allows Creon to speak his news from Apollo in front of all Thebans. He tells Creon, â€Å"Let them all hear! Their sufferings distress me more than if my own life were at stake† (93-94). Also, he sincerely wants to save his citizens by finding Laius’ murderer as soon as possible. Therefore, he cares about his people even more than he does himself. Towards the end of the story, however, Oedipus becomes the epitome of shame throughout the kingdom of Thebes. In ancient Greece, family and heritage was one of the most important virtues practiced. And thus, killing one’s own father was the most dishonorable action, next to marrying one’s own mother. Oedipus, sadly, performed both of these shameful crimes which were considered worse, even, than mass murder. So Oedipus went from being the pride of Thebes to its worst shame. Oedipus is indeed so ashamed of his actions that he tells his advisor, â€Å"†¦ Quick as you can, I beg, banish me, hide me, slay me! Throw me forth into the sea, where I may sink from view†¦ There is no man alive can bear this load of evil but myself†. Oedipus’ transition is evident in how he is now pleading and begging his own advisor to banish him from Thebes. Thus, Oedipus loses everything, including his own dignity. In conclusion, Oedipus makes a tragic transition from having everything to having nothing. Because of his quest for the truth, he finally found it and suffered the most in the end. However, despite the shame in what Oedipus did, one must still admire his spirit to continue looking for truth. It is admirable how he chose blindness rather than death, and in a way, punished himself for his past sins. Such a trait still makes him a hero, at in that sense. Sources: 1. http://www. users. globalnet. co. uk/~loxias/myth. htm#interpretation 2. http://cgi. sparknotes. com/hlite. rmpl? words=oedipus&pd=0&page=section5. rhtml&guide=%2fdrama%2foedipus.