Oedipus Rex Themes

Themes are overarching ideas and beliefs that the writers express in their
texts including poetry, fiction, and plays. Sophocles has presented several
controversial and unconventional themes in Oedipus Rex for his audiences
during his time. Some of these themes have been discussed below. The
quotes given in the themes have been borrowed from the translation by
Robert Fagles.

Themes in Oedipus Rex

Theme #1

Free Will

Free will is one of the most controversial themes of Oedipus Rex. This
philosophical thematic strand runs parallel to other ideas, but always
dominates them. Whether a man is the master of his fate and fortune is still a
debatable question. Sophocles has placed Oedipus in an uncertain situation
where his fate lies in his hands, and he has free will to avoid any
circumstances that arise against him. Oedipus has both character and
opportunities, which could have saved him despite the prediction of the oracle.
Therefore, the question of free will looms large in Oedipus Rex.

Theme #2

Fate

Fate, in a religious sense, is forced upon a person. If an individual is fated to

do something, it means the divine forces have already determined that course
of action for him. However, it leaves a controversial question of whether an
individual has the freedom to act, or not, though from the first part of the play it
seems that Oedipus has full freedom to take action. Jocasta too tries to take
control of her fate to prove the oracle. However, when the truth is revealed
during the plague, Oedipus accepts his fate saying, “Apollo told me once – it
is my fate.”

Theme #3

Self-Discovery
“Count no man happy till he dies” is the central theme that leads to the self-
discovery. The road to self-discovery adopted by Oedipus leads him to his
downfall and tragic end. Oedipus knows the answers to the Sphinx riddles but
does not know his past. Despite his popularity, knowledge and tireless efforts
to make his kingdom safe, Oedipus, eventually fall in the pit of disgrace and
discovers that he was just a pawn in the hands of nature or gods.

Theme #4

Pride Hath a Fall

Though Oedipus is not arrogant, he takes great pride in his past exploit of
defeating the Sphinx. He brags it at the beginning “I am Oedipus,” and tells
Priest of Zeus and people that he has solved the famous riddle. He further
assures his people that he would again find the culprit living in Thebes, who is
the cause of the plague. However, as the prophecy predicts that Oedipus is
the culprit, he leaves the city as a blind man, after gouging his eyes out. That
is why Chorus comments that no person should feel happy until his end.

Theme #5

Ignorance/Blindness

Ignorance of heart as well as the mind. In other words, Oedipus stays blind to
the consequences of his action. He does not know that the old man he killed
on the highway could be his father, and the woman he is married to could be
his mother. On the other hand, the blind prophet, Tiresias, can see things
even though he is physically blind. He interprets the oracles of Delphi and tells
the solutions. Creon does not want to run the government due to his
ignorance.

Theme #6

Guilt and Shame

When the play opens, it becomes clear that guilt and sin existed in the city
and there was a sinful person who needed to be banished in order to get rid of
the plague. Oedipus, obsessed with the idea of punishing that person, finds
himself guilty and is filled with shame because of his past.

Theme #7
Search for Truth

This is one of the crucial themes of Oedipus Rex. Oedipus, who sincerely and
wholeheartedly, sets upon the adventure of finding the truth. He discovers the
painful truth that he had murdered his own father, and his wife was his
mother, leading him to punish himself.

Theme #8

Hubris

Hubris is a Greek term used for excessive pride or over-confidence. This is

another theme of the play, Oedipus Rex. Oedipus, from the very start of the
play, shows hubris in his claim of knowing everything after defeating the
Sphinx. He tells the people that he has solved the riddle in the past and that
he would find the culprit and solve the plague too. However, when he
discovers that he is the culprit his hubris or the extreme pride breaks him
apart.

Theme #9

Power

Power corrupts men. The play, Oedipus Rex, shows this through the
character of Oedipus. His words express power over people like Creon and
Delphi. He also uses his power by forcing Tiresias and the shepherd to speak
the truth about the child that he was given to throw on the mountains.
Therefore, power is another theme of the play.

Theme #10

Justice

Although Oedipus past, the curse, and the punishment remain a mystery,
justice is an important theme. When the play opens, the Leader asks Oedipus
to rule the city justly and end the plague, as it is his duty. While obsessed to
discover his past, he is unable to dispense justice. He also accuses Creon of
conspiring against him. Once the bitter truth is revealed, Oedipus takes the
punishment upon himself. It seems like a harsh justice against Oedipus who
was not aware of their parent’s truth or the curse.