In the tragic play Oedipus, the protagonist is an honorable man who eventually takes the throne in a town called Thebes. Oedipus is a good man, driven by integrity and his distinction between right and wrong. It was prophesied that he would kill his father and marry his mother so, all throughout his life Oedipus tried to prevent this from happening. He moved away from his parents and his home town due to his fear of fulfilling his destiny. The previous king of Thebes, Laius, had been murdered and after Oedipus took the throne he vowed to find the murderer and curse him with banishment. As he searched for the killer, Oedipus encountered a blind prophet named Tiresais who tried to tell him that he was the one that had killed Laius. At this point in the play it becomes obvious that the blind man has access to much more truth than the man with his sight. As the play progressses Oedipus realizes that he was the killer and furthermore that Laius was most likely his father. When he was born his father instructed his mother to dispose of him because of the prophecy he had heard of his own son killing him. Oedipus was to be left in the forest to die but was saved by a shepherd and adopted by a family in a nearby town. Oedipus did not know he was adopted until he became king of Thebes. He had married Laius's wife and had several children with her,that meant that the woman, Jocasta was both his mother and his wife. When Oedipus is convinced that he has indeed fulfilled his horrifying prophecy he tries to kill Jocasta for not recognizing her own son, but finds that she has already committed suicide. Oedipus then removes the pins from her clothing and stabs himself in the eyes, blinding himself. Ironically, as a blind man, like Tiresais he can see more than before he lost his sight.
The tragedy of the play lies in the morals of Oedipus. He does everything in his power to remain a whole and honest man but eventually ends up killing his father, marrying and sleeping with his mother. His drive for truth and justice led to his downfall. His tragic flaw, as it is called, drove him to destruction. When the people in his life were telling him to give up the fight and let go of his determination he insisted that truth must prevail. Just before the culmination of the tragic events Jocasta says "In God's name, if you place any value on your life, don't pursue the search. It is enough that I am sick to death. ... Take my advice, I beg you-do not go on with it. It is good advice I am giving you-I am thinking of you." (p 77-78) He pays no attention to her, on the basis of ethics. The incredible sorrow could have been avoided and ignored if Oedipus was a more wicked man.
The tragedy of the play lies in the morals of Oedipus. He does everything in his power to remain a whole and honest man but eventually ends up killing his father, marrying and sleeping with his mother. His drive for truth and justice led to his downfall. His tragic flaw, as it is called, drove him to destruction. When the people in his life were telling him to give up the fight and let go of his determination he insisted that truth must prevail. Just before the culmination of the tragic events Jocasta says "In God's name, if you place any value on your life, don't pursue the search. It is enough that I am sick to death. ... Take my advice, I beg you-do not go on with it. It is good advice I am giving you-I am thinking of you." (p 77-78) He pays no attention to her, on the basis of ethics. The incredible sorrow could have been avoided and ignored if Oedipus was a more wicked man.