The Plague In Sophocles 'Oedipus The King'

In Greek myths kings play a big role in their kingdom and they have a moral responsibility to do what is ethically right for their people. In the story of Oedipus, the king, by Sophocles, Oedipus the ruler of Thebes must deal with the repercussions of a plague that is infiltrating his city and the consequences of committing a heinous crime. Oedipus has a moral responsibility to leave Thebes because he is the reason as to why the plague was brought upon the city and he deserves to get punished for committing the horrific crime of murder. Oedipus was once known as the wisest person for saving the people of Thebes from the torment of the sphinx, but he is also the reason as to why the people are in such agony because of the plague. In line 93 it says, “A murder blew the deadly plague breath on our city.” Meaning that the plague started as a punishment for revenge as to whoever killed king

And those who try to avoid it tend to be cursed. And sadly, for Oedipus he cursed himself and now he, his family and his kingdom must deal with the consequences. In part two of the story Oedipus the king by Sophocles lines 402-405 it says “He swears that he will exile himself from this land. He will not stay to bring upon the house the curse he himself pronounced.” This shows that Oedipus himself knows what he did was wrong and that he accepts that he should be punished, he wants to leave the city and go somewhere far away, where he can be isolated and not have to face his reality. But later in the story in lines 416-419 says “wretched Oedipus, I cannot look upon you, though I yearn to question and to learn, I must turn my eyes away in horror.” This shows that the same people who once respected him now will see him with different eyes, he is no longer the King they thought he once was. Thus, they now want to wreak vengeance for king Laius and for bringing a painful curse to their great