Jillian Stevens

Oedipus: Significant Elements

1. Karma
By far the most important aspect of this play is the use of karma in the fate of the characters. By using
karma, the text is able to teach the audience about what happens when you try to avoid your
predetermined fate, and Oedipus’ entire character arc is an example of this. No matter how many times he
runs away from what he is told to be true, it comes true. Oftentimes, to aid in the education of this topic,
the re-balancing of fate after Oedipus tries to avoid it often seems worse than if he had just accepted his
fate. Without this element in the play, it wouldn’t be as big of a tragedy. The misfortune Oedipus faces
seems even more tormenting when the audience recognizes how much he wishes it to be untrue.

2. Power
Power in this story is emphasized everywhere. Most recognizably, Oedipus depicts the human “form”
of power. He came to Thebes as a complete stranger and gained political power from his physical power
over the sphynx. While this is a stark example of this element, Oedipus displays some more hidden
examples of it as well. The biggest one is Oedipus’ belief that he is so powerful that he can continually
outrun his predetermined fate. He is proved wrong over and over again by the power of fate, but also by
the power of the gods. To take the gods seriously is an important lesson that is commonly found in Greek
tragedies, and this play most definitely wouldn’t be as impactful without it.

3. Hubris
While the topics of the play are tragic nonetheless, they are also meant to be humbling to the main
character. Oedipus is very prideful and we see this in pretty much every part of this story. The power he
gains from the throne definitely adds to his hubris throughout the story, but it was always there. Even
when he ran away from Corinth, he was filled with pride and sure that he could evade his fate, almost as if
to say that he was smarter than the gods. Along with his emphasis on power, Oedipus’ uncontrollable
hubris had to be taught a lesson by the gods. While the whole story revolves around him attempting to
save his people, it should not be mistaken for an act of selflessness. His goal has always been to aid
himself in the prevention of his fate.

4. Incest
This is undoubtedly an important element because it takes part in the influence of all other elements as
well. All of the lessons to be learned about karma, power, and hubris come about as a result of the
incestual prophecy given to Oedipus. It is the gravity of this fate that causes the characters to take such
drastic measures to prevent it. If it were a prophecy of something less revolting, I don’t think the
characters would go to the extremes that they did.

5. Sacrifice
Oedipus and Jocasta have to continually sacrifice aspects of their life in their attempts to evade the
prophecy, but the ultimate sacrifice arises from the realization of the prophecy. This is meant to teach the
audience that you will end up sacrificing more if you resist your fate, than if you accept what you’ve been
given by the gods and move on. This also ties into the lesson of “don’t mess with the gods”, because they
will make you suffer more if you deny them.