The Curse of Oedipus
Brian Lea

           Civilized societies value intellect, and the values of ancient Greece were no different. Sophocles challenges this faith in intellect in Oedipus Rex. By presenting his audience with a character noted for intellect, and then proving his complete lack of knowledge, Sophocles shows the fallibility of man’s knowledge. Oedipus, ruler of Thebes, prides himself on the fame that he received after solving the riddle of the Sphinx. He counts himself as a wise savior of cities, but he learns that he is an unwitting curse to his people. In lines 245-285 of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus addresses the plague of the people and swears oaths against the murderer who is responsible for the city’s problems. This passage shows the audience that Oedipus fosters a foolish pride in his abilities, displays the weaknesses of man’s perceived knowledge, and foreshadows the future pains that the unwitting Oedipus must endure.

Oedipus believes wholeheartedly in his ability to save Thebes. He even opens this speech by placing himself above the gods in abilities saying “You pray to the gods? Let me grant your prayers ” (Line 245) He implores the people, asking the people to “come, listen to me—do what the plague demands: you’ll find relief and lift your heads from the depths” (Lines 246-247). Oedipus honestly feels that he can end the suffering of the city. His claim has validity, but in a way too ghastly for him to imagine. Oedipus makes statements that directly prove his pride. Sophocles leaves no doubt concerning Oedipus’s faith in himself. By painting Oedipus in this manner, Sophocles creates a character ripe for a fall, and thereby draws a sharp contrast between what a noted wise man believes and what is true.

The statements that Oedipus utters in this speech show just how much he does not know. Oedipus claims “I fight for the god and the murdered man” (Line 279), when in fact he disgraces them both. He curses the murderer and anyone who would harbor him, having no idea that he committed the murder himself. By making Oedipus’s oaths so strong, Sophocles proves to the audience just how unknowledgeable Oedipus truly is. Oedipus says “[n]othing to fear, even if he must denounce himself, let him speak up and so escape the brunt of the charge” (Lines 256-258). This use of irony seems almost comical since Oedipus will later denounce himself. The pride that Oedipus displays, coupled with the ridiculously unsighted remarks he makes, forces the audience to recognize the lack of wisdom of this famed solver of riddles. In the final lines of this oration, Oedipus says “ I curse myself as well, if by any chance he proves to be an intimate of our house, here at my hearth, with my full knowledge, may the curse I jest called down on him strike me” (Lines 284-287). Sophocles gives his audience, who was undoubtedly familiar with this story, a jolt as they hear Oedipus curse himself under what he believes the impossible chance that he would harbor the murderer. Sophocles masterfully forces the crowd to realize that Oedipus, though himself certain in his actions, is totally unaware of the truth that has been facing him all along.
This passage foreshadows the pains that Oedipus is about to endure. This speech functions as an indicator of Oedipus’s future troubles. Oedipus decrees that the murderer will “suffer no unbearable punishment, nothing worse than exile, totally unharmed,” (Lines 260-261) and this decree is indeed true. Oedipus is exiled, and his wounds are self-inflicted. He orders his people to “drive him out, each of you, from every home” (Line 275). He even goes further, cursing the murderer to “drag out his life in agony, step by painful step” (Lines 282-283). All of these statements prove true. Their meanings are self-evident, and Oedipus is banished. His wanderings force him to drag out his life in painful agony, step by step. This foreshadowing adds suspense to the plot. Sophocles causes the audience to anticipate the culmination of these curses that Oedipus has called. The supposedly wise man proves to be correct in telling the ways that the culprit will suffer, but he is unaware of the murderer’s identity. Oedipus sentences himself. Once again, perceived wisdom contrasts violently with the truth.

Sophocles forcibly entices the Greeks to assess their value of knowledge. The human perspective shows an inherent weakness; mankind is limited by its own existence in space and time. Nobody possesses omniscience. This speech provides proof that even the wisest of men must be counted a fool when compared to the knowledge of any divine being. Because he speaks with such pride, Oedipus shows that he is blind to the truth. His lack of humility causes him to make oaths that further display his lack of knowledge and foreshadow his own demise. This speech sets up the entire play. Without it, the audience would not know just how blind Oedipus truly is. Oedipus’s merely partial knowledge and his faith in that knowledge prove to be his downfall.

All quotations come from Oedipus Rex