TITUS' WEEKLY INSIGHTS: Retold Story of Oedipus

The story of Oedipus is a play written hundreds years before birth of Christ by great Greek writer Sophocles. This play is found in his book entitled Set of Theban Plays. Oedipus Rex is a play alongside with other two plays found in this book; Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. Oedipus was the son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta, of the city of Theban.

In this city, there was once a prophecy from the Oracle of Apollo (diviner) that any son born from the king’s family will kill his father and marry his mother.[1] And therefore, the King’s family having been childless for many years, King Laius consulted the Oracle of Apollo that he may have a child regardless the prophecy. The Oracle prophesied again that any son born to Laius the king would kill him and consequently will marry his wife Jocasta.

Finally, Jocasta king’s wife gave birth to a son and in an attempt to prevent the fulfillment of the prophecy, Laius decided to kill his son; Oedipus. Jocasta then gave the boy Oedipus to the servants that they may abandon him in the wilderness and die over there.

So human the servants they were. Instead of abandoning the infant Oedipus in the mountains as Laius intended, they gave the baby to a shepherd from the kingdom of Corinth. The infant Oedipus eventually landed in the house of Polybus, king of Corinth and his queen, Merope, who adopted him, as they were without children of their own.[1] After many years of growth, Oedipus was informed by a drunkard man that he was not a biological son of king Corinth and therefore he confronted his “parents” to tell him the truth. King Polybus did not. Oedipus decided to go to the same Oracle in Delphi that his biological parents had consulted long time ago to find out his destination. The oracle informed him that he was destined to murder his father and marry his mother. This was too much for him and in an attempt to avoid such a fate, he decided to not return home; Corinth, but to travel to Thebes.

On the way, Oedipus met a chariot driven by his birth-father, King Laius whom he knew not. They fought over and unfortunately, Oedipus killed Laius and his servants. One of Laius’ servants witnessed king's death and ran back to inform the people that the king had been killed. Oedipus on his journey to Thebes, he met sphinx (ghost) whose work was to stop all travelers to Thebes. For one to enter the city, he/she would first solve a riddle provided by the sphinx. It would kill and eat the travelers who were not able to answer correctly. If travelers were successful, they would be free to continue with their journey. And so, Oedipus was asked to solve a riddle. "What walks on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon and three at night?" Oedipus answered that it was "Man”. And so, Oedipus was allowed to enter into city of Thebes.

It was made in public that whoever answers the riddles correctly, would be made the king of Thebes, and be allowed to marry the widowed Queen Jocasta. Therefore, without anyone knowing, Oedipus married his biological mother Jocasta. This marriage of Oedipus to Jocasta fulfilled the prophecy told long time ago. After many years of marriage, Oedipus and Jocasta had four children: two sons, Eteocles and Polynices and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene.

There occurred a terrible plague of infertility that struck the city of Thebes, crops, livestock and the people. Oedipus made a degree in public that he would end the epidemic. He decided to seek the wisdom of the Oracle at Delphi. The Oracle declared murderer of the former King Laius must be brought to justice if epidemic were to stop. Oedipus cursed the killer of his wife's late husband, and decreed that the person would be exiled.

The blind prophet of the city whom Oedipus went to consult over the issue warned him not to seek for Laius’ killer. Oedipus listened him not. After long persistence from Oedipus, the blind prophet exposed that Oedipus was the Laius’ killer. Oedipus denied the accusation. Jocasta calmed him by telling him the story of her first-born son and his death.[1] Oedipus realized that he is the one who murdered Laius his father and married his mother, and in deep he was the reason of the plague in the city.

Jocasta, finally realizing that Oedipus was her son, begged him to stop his search for Laius' murderer. Jocasta in great distress went into the palace where she hanged herself. In the Sophocles’ plays, Oedipus went to look for Jocasta and found she had committed suicide. Oedipus blinded himself and went for exile. He went with his daughter Antigone who guide him to the city of Colonus where he died.

Moral Implication of the Story

Man must look at his destiny. The story of Oedipus is effective even in our contemporary Africa. It calls us to understand that no one should be named successful and happy until he/she dies. This was Oedipus fortune of all men. He was the wisest than anyone else in the city of Thebes. Marrying the queen was a great achievement as well as becoming the king of the land. People celebrated him and adored him. Oedipus did not think of his destiny. The only thing that enslaved him was means of gaining power and shining before all men. I think we must not forget Cleopatra the most famous female queen who ruled Egypt in ancient time for many years. She was a woman of substance who believed that power is not only made for men alone. She is a woman who moved people of the land and brought Egypt to great dominance, power and prosperity. One must know that the end does not justify the end. She offered her two children to gods for her to become powerful.

One must not forget Muammar Qaddafi, a great revolutionary of Libya. A man who ruled Libya for four decades and awarded for several times for his ant-imperial stance. He is the man who wanted to even create United States of Africa. His end is not a good story to tell. Idi Amin on the other side was a great Army Commander once in Uganda. A man who fought for Independence for the people of Uganda. Years later, after independence he organized a coup and overthrown president Milton Obote. His end is not a good story to tell too. He died as a refugee in Saudi Arabia.

What am saying is that we must watch out in the way we related to one another, the means we use to gain power, and the way we govern our people. We must question our positions time to time. Am I doing what is right and good?