Betrayal is a major element in the plot of Oedipus. As the king of Thebes, Oedipus
is trying to help the people and stop the plague that is devastating their
state. When the blind prophet, Tiresias pays Thebes a visit, Oedipus
desperately questions him, looking for the answer to the question of who killed
Laius and how the plague can be stopped. Tiresias is clearly reluctant to give
Oedipus any information, as he says “Just send me home. You bear your burdens,
I’ll bear mine. It’s better that way, please believe me” (364-366). Oedipus becomes
enraged that the prophet has information and that he refuses to tell him. “What?
You know and you won’t tell? You’re bent on betraying us, destroying Thebes?”
(376-377). When Oedipus finally pulls the information out of Tiresias, he is
told that he is the one who is responsible for this horrible plague that is
destroying Thebes, as he says “You are the curse, the corruption of the land!”(401).
Oedipus is extremely offended that Tiresias could even suggest such a thing, and
becomes enraged that he is being accused of being the cause of the plague on
Thebes, when he is only trying to help them. This accusation from Tiresias
shows the apparent betrayal that Oedipus has supposedly placed upon the people
of Thebes, as he had promised to help save them from this devastating plague.
When Oedipus tells the citizens of Thebes that he will be able to rid the plague, the people rejoices at the fact that Oedipus will save Thebes once again. It is a pity to see how Oedipus’s change of word is an act of betrayal for his people who believe in their king. Oedipus becomes arrogant when Teiresias proclaims that Oedipus is the cause of the devastating plague. Since Oedipus’s hubris takes over, he fails to realize the truth and does not think about what is best for his people. He quickly reacts to Teiresias without giving any hesitation to his situation. I believe the people of Thebes will soon lose faith in their king and betray him for his crime once they learn the truth of who killed King Laius. Since Oedipus double-crosses his people, it would not be surprising if his people become disloyal to him.
ReplyDeleteAfter Tiresias leaves, Oedipus then accuses Creon of being a betrayer. He believed that Creon made Tiresias convict him of murder because when the murder occurred, the great seer never accused him. Through this theory, Oedipus thought Creon had a plan to have him killed to steal his crown and power.
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