After Jocasta killed herself and Oedipus stabbed his eyes, it was declared that Oedipus will be exiled from Thebes. His actions after this decision was made show his true character and leadership abilities. Instead of being worried with who will be taking his role and leading Thebes, he is concerned with whether Creon will take care or his daughters or not, saying "But my two daughters, my poor helpless girls,/... Take care of them,/ I beg you." (1602,1605-1606). This shows that it is not possible to hold responsibilities to family (oikos) and responsibilities to the state (polis.) at the same time. In a time of crisis, where the stability of Thebes on Oedipus' family are at stake, we see that Oedipus cares more for oikos than polis.
The image below is a quote from the 14th Dalai Lama, a monk who promotes physical and mental peace. This quote can be related to the impact that the Gods have on Greek tragedies. The characters in most of these plays believe that the Gods control the world and everyone's fate. That is why these characters so often find themselves in terrible positions. Instead of making decisions based on their own observations and what they believe is right, they follow the apparent beliefs of Gods and the messages the prophecies relay to them.
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