Lessons from Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex

Written by: Emily Huang

Statue of Sophocles

Having a goal in life provides something to pursue, a reason to keep improving and growing. Oedipus Rex by Sophocles is a Greek tragedy following Oedipus Rex and his pursuit of his future despite hardships. The Delphi Oracle tells Oedipus that he will kill his father and sleep with his mother, which prompts him to flee his home in Corinth in an attempt to escape his fate — an action that sets the scene for the beginning of the play. However, his prophecy is inevitable, and the reveal of his crimes destroys Oedipus’ status, but also gives him new life and his mistakes throughout the story teach readers important lessons. Sophocles’ message in Oedipus Rex tells us that despite past mistakes, looking towards the future for new opportunities, reflecting on the past to prevent repeating mistakes, and persevering through momentary setbacks allow individuals to become better people.

Looking into the future instead of dwelling on past actions allows for development and growth, instead of self-hatred. Although Oedipus’ status in the city of Thebes is destroyed after Oedipus’ birth status and the murder of Laius are revealed to the public, his moment of vulnerability allows him to reconnect with Creon, who defends Oedipus by saying to the attendants, “You there, show some reverence for the dignity of man, ‘...’ Quickly take him home. A family’s ears, a family’s eyes, / alone should know a family’s miseries” (Sophocles, OT 76). Oedipus previously condemns Creon, accusing him of conspiring to take over as king, and insulting him and Tiresias. However, Oedipus sees the truth after his physical blindness, representing the loss of physical pleasure in exchange for mental enlightenment. Because of this, Oedipus realizes his mistake in mistreating Creon, and Creon in turn forgives Oedipus, and defends him by asking for privacy. One of Oedipus’ mistakes is his lack of sensitivity in delicate social situations, he is very public in all matters, and Creon understands the best situation for Oedipus is privacy, reflecting the renewal of their relationship. Companionship is recovered at the price of Oedipus’ reputation, finding old friends with the Chorus and Creon and igniting the hope of a brighter future. 

Moreover, in the conclusion of the play, the Chorus gives a message to the audience, “Call no man happy until you have looked on his final day, ‘...’ But the contrary also holds. Oedipus, who had chosen both for himself and his daughters not to die, but to live where it is time to live, is not dead. No one has yet seen his final day, and consequently we cannot say yet that he is unhappy” (Dimock 456). Oedipus has gone through unimaginable suffering, having found out his greatest fears of his prophecy already happened, and he was unaware that his legacy, his daughters, are the product of corruption and incest. After the cruel and public reveal of the truth, made worse by Oedipus’ self denial and lack of reason, it would be understandable for him to commit suicide as Jocasta has done. However, Oedipus chooses to live painfully in blind exile due to his perseverance and will to live. Oedipus still has the potential for life, a new true beginning that could potentially be better than his previous life, which was an illusion. The citizens of Thebes greatly respected Oedipus, he was the ruler of the city who defeated the formidable Sphinx by solving her riddle, yet his household is corrupted, his city is dying from the plague, and he has committed heinous crimes. Sophocles tells a message to the audience that moving past setbacks, and truly living with both failures and success is greater than living with the illusion of perfection. 

Sophocles’ perspective on Oedipus Rex also sends the message of self reflection for improvement, and only with the understanding of the past can one avoid similar mistakes. After Oedipus blinds himself, he declares himself “free, / Yes, free from parricide: / Not poined out as wedded / To the one who weaned [him] / Now [he] is god-abandoned, / A son of sin and sorrows” (Sophocles, OT 74). Either because of fear for his prophecy or his stubbornness in admitting his mistakes, Oedipus chooses to remain in denial of his mistakes, despite receiving ample evidence that points to his origins. A man as bright as Oedipus, who was able to solve the Sphinx’s riddle, should have been able to uncover the mystery long before, or at least communicated with Jocasta more about Laius’s murder, seeing that she was his wife. However, Oedipus does none of these things. He does not communicate or think rationally, living in a state of purposeful denial that only drags out his eventual suffering. When the moment comes, Oedipus sees the truth of his past, his crimes of parricide and incest, and knows he has lost the god’s favor, or perhaps never had it at all. Oedipus’ distress at the finale of the play is not just because of his crimes predicted by the prophecy but because he finally realizes he is “A son of sin and sorrows,” he understands the cost of his actions and faces the reality of his mistakes. Maturity and growth result from realization and Oedipus is forever changed. Facing similar situations, Oedipus would perhaps choose not to grow angry at those who try to help him despite his ignorance, such as Tiresias and the messenger, and accept the criticism and advice of others. Although Oedipus is seen as great, praised as well respected and wise by the priest in the prologue, when faced with his own parentage, “even after his journey to Delphi, he has failed to learn that the Corinthian rulers are not his parents, shows that his vaunted intelligence is blind when directed toward the truth of this prophecy” (Weil 346). Oedipus’ wisdom works best when helping others, but when it comes to himself, his feelings take precedence over his rationale, and lead to rash decisions. He would most likely not advise others to kill an older and civilized group of strangers at the crossroads as he has done, or insult Tiresias, the oracle, yet when he has to make these decisions personally, he lacks the foresight to predict the consequences of his actions. Oedipus repeats the same mistakes over and over again, ignoring the obvious patterns and choosing to grow angry in denial. It is only after he is forced to face the truth that he evolves and becomes self-aware of his actions. Accidentally making a mistake, or innocently committing a crime is one thing, but repeating the same mistakes again, and becoming defensive when confronted is frustrating to those trying to help. The best course of action when erring in judgement is to take the space to consider what actions could be beneficial, and which would only worsen the situation. 

Finally, perseverance is an important trait in life. After considering the future, and reflecting on the past, having the strength to continue is key to actually making change. However great one’s intentions are, it is only with action that these intentions can be carried out.  His original act in leaving Corinth and trying to avoid his prophecy can be seen as admirable, “he could attempt to live and to rule as if this horrible death did not await him, as if the nature of such a death did not matter. Or he could attempt somehow to evade this prophecy. Such an attempt would not seem like rebellion against a divine commandment, but it would be, in effect, an effort to deny the validity of the oracle's omniscience” (Weil 337). Oedipus refuses to give up and just accept the inevitable, that he would kill his father, and he chooses to leave to avoid his fate. His courage in his actions displays Oedipus’ unique perseverance. Others simply accept what they are told, and Oedipus himself does believe and have faith in the gods, as he consults the oracle about the plague and fears his prophecy, which provides more of a reason to just give up, but he doesn’t. Even in his final requests to Creon, Oedipus asks, “Expel me quickly, purge me far from Thebes / to where no human voice is heard ‘...’ The god’s design is open, all his oracle is clear: / kill the impious one, the parricide, kill me” (Sophocles, OT 76). Having to choose between death and life, Oedipus chooses to live. He chooses to continue in life, even though his life is exile alone and blind, at the mercy of the gods. Oedipus knows he will likely die alone in exile, and face retribution in the afterlife anyway, but he still chooses to live. His perseverance in life, instead of committing suicide as Jocasta has done, highlights the human faith and stubbornness to continue past hardships.

Therefore, Oedipus Rex is a warning and a message to the audience, to be able to live a fulfilled life and better oneself, one must have the foresight to give thought to the future, the maturity to reflect on the past, and the strength to persevere. Oedipus may have made mistakes, but he still has the potential to better his life — and so does anyone else. Living a happy life that only masks the true corruption of the situation and cycling through patterns of outbursts and mistakes can allow one to live comfortably in an illusion of contentment, but when the illusion is broken, suffering is intensified. It is better to accept the problems and mistakes in life, but continue to aim for improvement. 

Citations:

Refer to original play by Sophocles