Oedipus the King by Sophocles was written after an overwhelming outbreak struck the city of Athens. Basically The play shows how knowledge can lead to damage and devastation based on how the characters find out the truth of the Delphic Oracle. Before Oedipus became the king of Thebes. King, Laius, had received a terrible prophecy about his son on how he will murder his father when he grows up. And that was the main reason why he gave his baby son to a sheperd to dispose of him. Few years later king Laius died and the Sphinx arises , locks put the whole city on lock down by refusing to let anybody enter or leave the city unless they can solve her puzzle which is “What goes on four legs in the morning, two at noon, and three at night?" nobody …show more content…
He tells them of what happened that day and how he killed them all one by one. He wished to die, but that day he was victorious. And that's when he came upon Thebes and solved the riddle. Once he finnaly talks to the shepherd he tells him how he served under King Lauis. Lauis received the Oracle and gave the baby to him. He pins his ankles together and the shepherd felt pity for the baby and takes him far away "What he fulfills and saves, by not deviating from it, is his own nature. But that is also what destroys him, his own nature -- daimon, fate portion or need, the need for self knowledge" (Knox 205) Oedipus's search for the truth mislead him. The truth was right in front of him and he was blinded. He ignored all the signs to the end. When Oedipus knows for certain it was him that killed his father, King Lauis he screams "Oh God all come true, all burst to light! O Lightnow let me look my last on