'Oedipus Rex (Murray Translation)' Summary

Oedipus Rex begins with the city of Thebes plagued by a devastating pestilence. Oedipus, the city's king, seeks the help of the blind prophet Tiresias to understand the source of the plague. Tiresias reveals that the cause is a curse stemming from the murder of the previous king, Laius, and the incestuous marriage of the murderer to Laius's widow. Despite his attempts to evade his destiny, Oedipus is ultimately confronted with the horrifying truth – he is the murderer and the incestuous husband. He had been abandoned as an infant and raised by a different family, unaware of his true lineage. After a harrowing realization of his actions, Oedipus blinds himself in anguish and is exiled from Thebes. Oedipus Rex stands as a powerful exploration of the consequences of human ignorance and the struggle against fate. It is a timeless story that continues to resonate with audiences centuries later, leaving them to grapple with the complexities of human nature and the enduring power of tragedy.