In this video, I’ll summarize the plot of Oedipus Rex in about four minutes and give you an analysis of the story.
1. Oedipus’ Vow
The play begins in Thebes, where a terrible plague is ravaging the city. The citizens, led by the priest, beg their king, Oedipus, to find a solution. Oedipus, known for his intelligence and past victory over the Sphinx, has already sent his brother-in-law, Creon, to consult the oracle at Delphi. Creon returns with a message: the plague will end only when the murderer of the former king, Laius, is found and punished. Determined to save his people, Oedipus vows to uncover the truth and curses the unknown murderer, not realizing that he is condemning himself.
2. The Investigation Begins
Oedipus orders an investigation and seeks guidance from the blind prophet Tiresias. However, Tiresias hesitates to reveal the truth, warning Oedipus that he will not like what he discovers. When pressed, Tiresias declares that Oedipus himself is the murderer. Enraged, Oedipus accuses Tiresias of conspiring with Creon to overthrow him. Despite these accusations, the investigation continues, and Oedipus begins to suspect that his past may hold the key to Laius’ death.
3. Oedipus’ Past
As Oedipus delves deeper, he recalls a prophecy he received as a young man: that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Fearing this fate, he had fled his home in Corinth, believing his parents were King Polybus and Queen Merope. However, along his journey, he killed an old man at a crossroads in self-defense—a man he now suspects may have been Laius. His fears grow when Jocasta, his wife and the queen, mentions that Laius was killed where three roads met.
4. The Shocking Truth
A messenger from Corinth arrives, bringing news that King Polybus has died. At first, this seems to disprove the prophecy, but the messenger then reveals that Oedipus was never the true son of Polybus and Merope. He was, in fact, a foundling adopted by them after being abandoned as a baby. A shepherd is brought forward, confirming that Jocasta and Laius were his real parents and that he was left to die because of the prophecy. The terrible truth is now undeniable: Oedipus has unknowingly fulfilled the oracle’s prophecy by killing his father and marrying his mother.
5. Oedipus’ Downfall
Overcome with horror, Jocasta takes her own life. When Oedipus discovers her body, he blinds himself with her brooches, unable to bear the sight of what he has done. He emerges before the people of Thebes, a broken man, and begs Creon to exile him. Creon, now in control, grants Oedipus’ wish, and the fallen king prepares to leave Thebes. The play ends with a warning from the chorus: no man can escape fate, and even the greatest can fall.
Theme 1: Fate vs. Free Will
One of the central themes of Oedipus Rex is the struggle between fate and free will. Oedipus spends his life trying to avoid his destiny, yet every action he takes brings him closer to fulfilling it. His intelligence and determination, once seen as his greatest strengths, ultimately lead to his downfall. The play suggests that fate is inescapable, but it also raises the question of whether Oedipus is responsible for his own suffering. While the gods may have set his destiny, it is his choices—killing a stranger in anger, relentlessly seeking the truth—that bring it to fruition.
Theme 2: Limits of Knowledge
Throughout the play, sight and blindness function as powerful metaphors for knowledge and ignorance. Oedipus, who prides himself on his ability to uncover the truth, is blind to his own reality. Meanwhile, Tiresias, the physically blind prophet, sees the truth clearly. In the end, Oedipus’ literal act of self-blinding represents his shift from ignorance to painful awareness. The play suggests that knowledge can be dangerous and that humans, no matter how wise, have limits to what they can understand or control.