Oedipus the King

In Oedipus the King Oedipus is standing in front of his fellow people. The priest tells him that the country is suffering from a great plague and they need someone to stop it. Oedipus has sent Creon his brother-in-law to find the cause of the plague and he should be returning at anytime now. When Creon arrives he tells Oedipus that the killer of Laius is in Thebes and must leave Thebes before the town is to be well again. Creon tells of the kings passing and how he was killed on the road and only one of his men survived. The chorus asks the God's to help save Thebes. Oedipus comes back in and asks the people if they know who killed Laius. He tells them that if they confess the only punishment will be to leave the country. When nobody answers he is angry and says that even if it was someone in his own family it would be the same punishment. The chorus tells Oedipus to call upon the great blind prophet, Tiresias. When Tiresias comes Oedipus tells him to reveal the killer at once. Tiresias at first refuses because he knows it will be upsetting. When the murderer is finally revealed Oedipus can not believe it is him he tells Tiresias that he is wrong but he repeats himself and says it is true. Oedipus still does not believe him and believes that Creon and Tiresias are trying to overthrow him. Tiresias then goes on to say that Oedipus doesn't even know his own parents and the killer of Laius is also the son of his wife and brother of his children. The chorus becomes confused and doesn't know who to believe. They finally agree to not believe anything unless they see proof. Oedipus accuses Creon of trying to overthrow him and he wants Creon put to death. Jocasta comes into the scene and tells Oedipus not to kill anyone. She tells him that all prophets are false because there son was supposed to kill his father and marry his mother but the son was put to death and Laius was killed by thieves. She tells Oedipus that Laius was killed at a road where three roads meet up. Oedipus tells Jocasta that when he heard he was going to kill his father and sleep with his mother he fled his home and on his way he met travelers that made him mad so he killed them in self defense. He thinks it could have been Laius. Oedipus then sends for the shepherd that survived the attack by Oedipus. A messenger comes and tells him that his father Polybus is dead and Oedipus is to come rule there. They are glad because they believe that the prophecy was wrong. Oedipus is stilled worried about sleeping with his mother but the messenger tells him not to worry because they were not his real parents. The messenger explains that when he was a shepherd he found a baby on the mountain. The messenger says that this baby is Oedipus and a servant of Laius was told to take the baby and kill it. Oedipus then sends for the shepherd to find out who his real parents are. Jocasta tells him to stop the search but he refuses. The shepherd refuses to talk but Oedipus threatens to torture him. He tells Oedipus that Laius and Jocasta gave up their son because of the prophet. But the shepherd could not kill him. He gave the baby to another shepherd to be raised as a prince. Oedipus now realizes who his real parents are and screams. The messenger comes back and tells the chorus that he has more bad news. Jocasta has hung herself in her own room. She has wept for Laius and for her bad fate. Oedipus walks into Jocasta's room and when he sees her hanging he takes her gold broaches from her clothes and repeatedly gouges out his eyes. Oedipus walks onto the stage and is covered in blood and moaning about his bad fate and the horrible life he has. He says he must be banished from Thebes at once for he cannot bear his life anymore. Creon comes in and agrees to banish him from the town only if the Gods agree with everything that has happened. He tells Creon that his sons will be fine and act like men but he asks for Creon to take care of his girls and if he could see them one more time. His daughters, Antigone and Ismene, come onto the stage crying and Oedipus prays that their life will be better than his. Creon takes the girls away and Oedipus is taken down from the throne. The chorus comes in and says that one of the greatest men has fallen and that means that all life is miserable and the only way to feel better is to die.