Oedipus is a man of accepting his responsibilities and acting on them. Being a manof action, accepts his responsibility of a son and leaves home attempting to avoid his faithwhich consists of the murder of his father and marriage to his mother. As king he acceptshis responsibility of the uncovering of the murder of King Laius. The search for themurderer leads to nothing but a discovery of regrettable action and literally a blindingtruth.
A truth that was better left undiscovered. Oedipus discovers that he murdered KingLaius and married his mother Jocasta. His discovery yet innocent at heart leads to hisrealization that he is guilty of one thing, trying to change his own faith. Oedipus the King is a man of responsible action, but has an uncontrollable curiositywhich hurts him in the end. Oedipus accepts his duties as king and tries to end the plaguein Thebes. Then Ill go back and drag that shadowed past to light.
Oh, yes the pious Apollo and your piety have set on foot a duty to the dead: A search that you and I together will pursue. My designs could not be suited more: to avenge the god and Thebes in a single blow. Ah! Not for any far-flung friend, but by myself and for myself Ill break this plague. For who knows, tomorrow this selfsame murderer may turn his bloody hands on me. The cause of Laius therefore is my own. So, rise up, children, and be off.
Take your prayer boughs too. Summon here the counselors of Thebes and muster too the Cadmus clan. I am resolute, and shall not stop till with Apollos help all-blessed we emerge, or else we are lost-beyond all purge. ( Prologue, pg 219). This refrain is describes Oedipus motives and intent for his action or any action he makein the play. He is declaring his search for the murder of King Laius.
It shows that he istaking responsibility for being king, vengeful to the god, persistent in pursuit for themurderer, but most of all selfish. Oedipus says himself in this line Not for any far-flungfriend, but myself and for myself Ill break this plague. Oedipus is acting noble inavenging the former kings death, but his first sign of selfishness protrudes out this line. Oedipus action of avenging the kings death and breaking the plague is the chance forhim to be proved as a great king. Oedipus finds out from the oracle in his childhood town Corinth that he will murderhis father and marry his mother. Oedipus being just and reasonable does not want this tooccur, so he leaves Corinth.
Oedipus tries to deny his own faith by leaving home. Oedipus proves to be selfish by not accepting his own fate. Apart from what he wasfated to do, he does not want to do accept his faith and leaves. Some say these actionsmaybe, innocent. Who would want to murder their own father, let along marry yourmother? It was his curiosity of wanting to know his own faith. It is not his choice tochange it and he is guilty of that.
His action of leaving innocent, but the Oedipus notaccepting his faith which he desired is selfish. Oedipus persistence and curiosity overpowered reason. In the First Episode on page226 Tiresias the blind oracle say Id rather keep you and me from harm. Dont press meuselessly. My lips are sealed.
Tiresias consciously tries to cover up the knowledgeOedipus desires, but eventually sets the knowledge free. Oedipus curiosity andpersistence lead him to the beginning of his own doom. Oedipus actions stop beingnoble when he becomes suspect to the crime. From the moment Tiresias tells Oedipusthat The rotting canker in the State is you.
, Oedipus noble search becomes a personalone in which he can not refrain from settling his curiosity. This is where sometimes thetruth is better left unsaid, but Oedipus refuses to refrain from his overpowering curiosity. The arrival of the shepherd answers all the questions Oedipus desires. Themessenger helps explain what happened in the woods and during his
