Oedipus Rex Themes

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.

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.”

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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.