OEDIPUS REX Plot

Exposition:
The city of Thebes is beset by a plague that is killing all the plants in the fields and the babies in their mothers’ womb. It is threatening Thebes' existence. The Delphic Oracle advises that in order to get rid of the plague, the murderer of its past king, Laius, be cast out of Thebes.

Conflict:
Teiresias, the blind prophet called to reveal the identity of Laius’ murderer names the king, Oedipus, as Laius’ murderer. This angers Oedipus and he becomes determined to inquire and know the identity of Laius’ murderer. There is man versus man conflict between Oedipus and Teiresias. When Oedipus also accuses Creon of conspiring with Teiresias to bring him down as king of Thebes, another man versus man conflict arises.

However, the more prominent conflicts in the story are Oedipus’ battle against his fate and his own pride. The man versus nature conflict between Oedipus and his fate is played out from his birth, running away from Corinth to “escape” his fate only to be lead to killing Laius and marrying Jocasta. Oedipus also plays out a man versus himself conflict when his pride causes him to irrationally accuse Teiresias and Creon of conspiring against him. More importantly, his pride and belief that he can save Thebes again leads him to self-destruction when his careful and exhaustive inquiry reveals his parentage and his crimes of parricide and incest.

Climax:
The messenger from Corinth reveals Oedipus’ true identity. The herdsman further reveals Oedipus’ parentage. The truth that the twice prophesized Oedipus’ murder of his own father and marriage to his own mother has indeed come to pass. As a result of these revelations, Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus blinds himself.

Dénouement:
Oedipus asks Creon to exile him from Thebes and to take care of his daughters. Oedipus leaves Thebes.