Oedipus Eyewitness Testimony

Introduction/Thesis

In 5th century Athens, a man is met by a group of men, and they get into a disagreement that leads to a battle. Only the lone man is standing when the battle is over, with everyone else being killed. This scene is seen in a painting by Paul Joseph Blanc and is considered an “eyewitness testimony” in the trial. What the painting is depicting is The Murder of Laius by Oedipus, which is based on Sophocles’ play, Oedipus Tyrannus. This painting can be used as eyewitness testimony in the trial of Oedipus along with his verbal testimony of what he has done. To find out if he is innocent or guilty, jurors must look at whether Oedipus acted of his own free will or if it was determined for him to kill the men. A number of jurors say Oedipus is not guilty of second-degree murder and acted out of self-defense because of the eyewitness account of the painting and the fact that he is greatly outnumbered, with one man pointing a knife at him looking ready to

(On the account of the painting being a piece of evidence, the verbal testimony from Oedipus about what happens at the crossroads is the second piece of evidence). As a young boy, Oedipus grew up as the prince of Corinth. His parents are King Polybus of Corinth and Queen Merope. One day though, Oedipus’ world would change forever. At a party he was hosting, a man had too much to drink and announced that he was not really his father’s son. After hearing what the drunk man says, he goes to Delphi to really find out if he is his father’s son. When Oedipus gets to Delphi, he discovers he is destined to murder his father and commit incest with his mother. After learning what he is destined to do, Oedipus flees from the kingdom to run away from who he believes is his mother. Oedipus later tells Jocasta just exactly what happened at the crossroads in what is considered his