Summary of Oedipus Myth
The Oedipus Myth
Oedipus was born of King Lauis and Queen Jocasta, the rulers of Thebes. They were warned by an oracle, that Oedipus, their soon-to-be-son, would grow up, kill his father, and marry his mother. So right after his birth, they arranged for a herdsman to kill him, but the herdsman had sympathy for the little infant, so he could not do it. Instead, he gives little Oedipus to another herdsman who then he takes Oedipus to King Polybus and Queen Meriope. They raised him as their own. Later on in his life, he hears of the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. So he runs away, trying to avoid fate.
Along the way, he gets into trouble with a man, not knowing it is his father Lauis, and he kills him. He then reaches the gates of Thebes, where he solves the riddle of the sphinx. As a result, he saved Thebes and became their king, as well as Jocasta’s husband. He has four children with her: Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles, and Polyneices. He ruled for some years before he recognizes his identity. They then began to wonder who the murderer of Lauis is. The prophet announces Oedipus was the criminal. Oedipus is angry, and he thinks that this is a plan of Creon’s to gain the throne. Before the battle breaks out, Jocasta comes and tells Oedipus of the prophecy, and says Lauis was killed by robbers.
Oedipus is now confused. He then finds out that his adopted father, Polybus, is dead, but doesn’t want to go back because he thinks he is going to marry his mother. The messenger then announces that Queen Meriope is not his biological mother. Then, Oedipus finds out he was abandoned as an infant and adopted by a new family. Jocasta finally realizes that she is Oedipus’s mother and that Laius was his father. Horrified at what has happened, she hangs herself. Shortly thereafter, Oedipus, too, realizes that he was Laius’s murder and that he’s been married to (and having children with) his mother. In horror and despair, he gouges his eyes out and then
Oedipus was born of King Lauis and Queen Jocasta, the rulers of Thebes. They were warned by an oracle, that Oedipus, their soon-to-be-son, would grow up, kill his father, and marry his mother. So right after his birth, they arranged for a herdsman to kill him, but the herdsman had sympathy for the little infant, so he could not do it. Instead, he gives little Oedipus to another herdsman who then he takes Oedipus to King Polybus and Queen Meriope. They raised him as their own. Later on in his life, he hears of the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother. So he runs away, trying to avoid fate.
Along the way, he gets into trouble with a man, not knowing it is his father Lauis, and he kills him. He then reaches the gates of Thebes, where he solves the riddle of the sphinx. As a result, he saved Thebes and became their king, as well as Jocasta’s husband. He has four children with her: Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles, and Polyneices. He ruled for some years before he recognizes his identity. They then began to wonder who the murderer of Lauis is. The prophet announces Oedipus was the criminal. Oedipus is angry, and he thinks that this is a plan of Creon’s to gain the throne. Before the battle breaks out, Jocasta comes and tells Oedipus of the prophecy, and says Lauis was killed by robbers.
Oedipus is now confused. He then finds out that his adopted father, Polybus, is dead, but doesn’t want to go back because he thinks he is going to marry his mother. The messenger then announces that Queen Meriope is not his biological mother. Then, Oedipus finds out he was abandoned as an infant and adopted by a new family. Jocasta finally realizes that she is Oedipus’s mother and that Laius was his father. Horrified at what has happened, she hangs herself. Shortly thereafter, Oedipus, too, realizes that he was Laius’s murder and that he’s been married to (and having children with) his mother. In horror and despair, he gouges his eyes out and then