Oedipus - Oedipus The King, Oedipus At Colonus and Antigone, In popular culture

In Greek legend, a Theban hero of whom it was foretold that he would kill his father and marry his mother. He was exposed at birth, and lamed with a spike through his feet (his name means ‘swell-foot’). Brought up in Corinth, he fled from his adoptive parents when an oracle revealed his destiny. On the way to Thebes he killed his father Laius by chance, and, having guessed the riddle of the sphinx, was made the new ruler of the city and married its queen, Jocasta. When all was revealed, he blinded himself. He died either at Thebes (Homer) or at Colonus in Attica (Sophocles).

Oedipus was the mythical king of Thebes, son of Laius and Jocasta, who unknowingly killed his father and married his mother.

Oedipus The King

Laius, Oedipus' father, kidnapped and raped the young boy Chrysippus and was then cursed by Chrysippus' father, Pelops. The weight of this curse bore down onto Oedipus himself.

At a party thrown by King Polybus, a drunk guest called Oedipus a bastard. Seeking to confirm his parentage, not believing the man, Oedipus sought out the Oracle at Delphi. The man in the chariot demanded that Oedipus stand aside so he could pass, finally hitting Oedipus with his goad. Oedipus, as the times permitted to defend oneself, killed the stranger and all but one of his entourage. The man, unknown to Oedipus, was King Laius, Oedipus' real father.

Oedipus decided that the drunkard at the party was lying, and decided not to return home in order to avoid Polybus. As he traveled, Oedipus encountered a mystical creature that was terrorizing Thebes. Oedipus saved the city by answering the riddle of the Sphinx ("What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?": Man, as a baby man crawls on four legs; In Sophocles' play, Oedipus the King, Oedipus has four children with Jocasta, though this may have been a plot device he employed, as incest was not part of the original myth. Finally, the seer Tiresias revealed to Oedipus that Oedipus himself was the source of the pollution. Oedipus, not believing this soothsayer, came to the conclusion that it is Creon, Jocasta's brother who was plotting to usurp Oedipus from the throne. Oedipus blames Tiresias of lying and having a false premise but also that he possesses no future-sight. It is not until a messenger arrives with news that his foster father Polybus had died of natural causes did Oedipus finally discover the mystery surrounding his birth. The messenger tells Oedipus that he was not the son of Polybus but was given to him by this particular messenger. Jocasta, upon hearing this, finally understands the horrible truth and pleads with Oedipus that he must not pursue his birth anymore. Oedipus believing that Jocasta is afraid of his being born of a lower class, does not heed her warning. Oedipus, wanting to know more, asks the messenger to reveal who had delivered him to Polybus. The messenger reveals it was a shepherd, who is then summoned to speak with Oedipus. The shepherd reveals that Oedipus was given to this shepherd from the house of King Laius to be killed. It is then that Oedipus realises the truth; Oedipus blinds himself by forcing her brooch pins into his eyes.

It should be noted that the answer to the Sphinx's riddle applies to Oedipus more than any other man.

Oedipus At Colonus and Antigone

When Oedipus stepped down as King of Thebes, he gave the kingdom to his two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, who both agreed to alternate the throne every year.

In popular culture

An episode of Animaniacs is based on the story of Oedipus. The Steven Berkoff play Greek is a modern appropriation of the story of Oedipus. Jason Wishnow created a movie of the Oedipus story, performed by vegetables, which has been screened at a number of film festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival, where it received its world premier. The song The End by the American rock group The Doors makes allusions to a man who desires to kill his father and then have sex with his mother. Oedipus makes a brief appearance in History of the World, Part I. It should be noted that the events of The Roman Empire would not have coincided (in place or time) with those of the life of Oedipus. The Haruki Murakami novel Kafka on the Shore features a protagonist with an oedipal prophecy, although the plot plays out much differently than the Greek story The humorous essay "Planes, Trains, and Plantains: The story of Oedipus" can be found here. In the British sitcom Green Wing, two characters, Kim Alabaster and Naughty Rachel both read books about Oedipus, as a way of mocking their boss Joanna Clore who unknowingly slept with her son Guy Secretan. Bach, created the humorous oratorio Oedipus Tex, a western setting of the story. In 2006 the musical parody Oedipus for Kids came out. In the popular American series The Simpsons, Homer has a dream where Bart has hunted him down and married his wife after learning about Oedipus from Lisa. In the song "Oedipus Rex" by Tom Lehrer Reference is made to the "Oedipus Rex" story in Regina Spektor's 2001 song entitled "Oedipus". In the season one episode "The Puppet Show" of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Willow, Xander and Buffy are doing a scene of Oedipus Rex in the closing credits. In the Hercules: The Legendary Journeys episode "Rebel With a Cause," Oedipus is seen being saved by Hercules. The film Minority Report contains numerous references to Oedipus the storyline and its characters. Regina Spektor (American/Russian singer/ songwrite) wrote and performed a song called Oedipus.