This paper analyzes Sophocles' Oedipus Rex through three interlocking themes: the tension between fate and free will, the destructive nature of truth, and the symbolic significance of blindness. The paper traces how Oedipus's attempts to defy the Oracle's prophecy ultimately fulfill it, arguing that fate proves stronger than human will. It also examines the claim that "truth has made me strong," finding it largely false — the revelation of Oedipus's identity brings ruin rather than empowerment. Finally, the paper considers the character of Tiresias and how his physical blindness contrasts with Oedipus's deeper metaphorical blindness to his own crimes and origins.
The ancient Greek philosophers produced a series of legends that have influenced much of the philosophy existing in our modern world. Many contemporary philosophers have managed to find answers to their patients' problems with the help of Greek philosophy. Sophocles' Oedipus Rex helped the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, in his claim that all people are inclined to identify themselves with Oedipus's character.
Most of the plot of Oedipus Rex revolves around the interaction between free will and fate. Oedipus's life had been determined from a young age when his parents consulted Apollo's Oracle at Delphi, which was said to have the ability to predict the future. The Oracle claimed that Oedipus had been fated to murder his father and marry his mother.
Free will intervenes and challenges fate as Oedipus and his parents are separated, and Oedipus's destiny seems to have changed suddenly. The fact that Oedipus is adopted by King Polybus makes it virtually impossible for anyone to still believe that there is any truth in the prophecy the Oracle had made.
Even so, Oedipus still manages to encounter his real father once he becomes an adult. After a skirmish between the two concerning the right of way at a crossroads, Oedipus kills his father. Fate proves to be stronger than free will in this episode.
Oedipus travels further to his home city, Thebes, and, following a series of incidents, is named king. However, Oedipus finds that the city is rapidly falling into ruin because of a plague. He turns to the gods for help, and Apollo tells Oedipus's messenger that there is great evil in Thebes, and that it can be saved only if the killer of the former king is banished from the city.
Oedipus investigates and discovers that he is the killer of the king — who was, in fact, his real father — and that he had married his own mother. Everything done to prevent fate from taking its course had been done in vain, with Oedipus's impressive power of will being no match for destiny.
The main character leads his life in a civilized manner, believing that everything is exactly as it appears. Oedipus believes that his real parents are Polybus and Merope, and when he asks them, they lie and tell him that he is their son. He is informed by the gods that one day he will murder his father and marry his mother. As a result, he flees from Corinth — where Polybus and Merope reside — in order to prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled.
The statement "truth has made me strong" is only partially true, because while the main character believed that his life was exactly as he had made it, it was actually shaped by his fate. A chain of events had led to Oedipus becoming a strong and wise man. Most of the actions he performed throughout his life had contradicted the Oracle's prophecy.
The circumstances that placed Oedipus in the position of murdering his real father, Laius, came as a result of the lies he had been told. If Polybus and Merope had not lied to him by claiming to be his real parents, Oedipus would never have encountered Laius.
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